Self-limiting episodes of recurrent thyrotoxicosis

5 patients with recurrent thyrotoxicosis experienced a remission without anti-thyroid therapy. The initial episode of thyrotoxicosis was treated with carbimazole, and after completing treatment the patients remained in remission for periods of up to 16 months. At the time of recurrence clinical features of thyrotoxicosis were accompanied by elevation of thyroid radioiodine uptake, protein-bound iodine, and free-thyroxine index. Subsequent clinical improvement was paralleled by a return of values to normal. Conventional treatment of these relapses of thyrotoxicosis by radioidine therapy or subtotal thyroidectomy might not have conferred any advantage on these patients.