Clinical value of thyrotrophin-releasing hormone （TRH） stimulation test in predicting relapse of Graves’ disease

In order to observe the value of TRH stimulation test in predicting the relapse of Graves’ disease, the present study was conducted in 67 patients with Graves’ disease following antithyroid drug therapy 2 weeks to 3 months after cessation of therapy. Positive TSH response to iv 300μg TRH was found in 74.6% （50/67） of patients and negative in 25.4% （17/67）. Relapse occurred in 14% of the TRH-responsive as compared with 47.1% of the TRH-unresponsive patients （P＜ 0.05）. The test was repeated in 42 patients who remained in remission, at intervals ranging fom 12 to 18 months after cessation of therapy. Among the 9 patients who showed no response initially 6 changed into response. Other 3 remained unresponsive on later examinations, among whom 2 had clinical relapse later. In the 33 patients who showed response initially, only 4 （12%） changed in-tounresponsiveness and the other 29 remained responsive The study indicats that TRH stimulation test may be of some help in predicting the relapse of patients with Graves’ disease after antithyroiddrug therapy.