The Use of Lithium Carbonate in the Treatment of Graves' Disease With ~(131)I

Lithium carbonate involving radioactive iodine uptake, goiter volume, thyroid hormone and applying range is reviewed briefly. Lithium may elongate the T_(1/2) of iodine in thyroid gland, decrease ~(131)I dosage and enhance curative effect. Lithium carbonate inhibit iodine uptake and thyroid hormone synthesize, blocks the release of iodine and thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland, which lead to reduce the ~(131)I dosage the patients need and to decrease the surge of serum FT_3 and FT_4 levels caused by ~(131)I therapy. So lithium carbonate can alleviate the symptoms caused by ~(131)I treatment. For lithium carbonate can increase leucocyte amount, there are some merits with lithium carbonate in treating Graves' disease by ~(131)I.