Overview
This study proposes to randomize patients about to undergo surgery for their autoimmune, inflammatory thyroid disease, and determine if a short course of corticosteroids decreases the inflammation of the gland and makes surgery less difficult.
Eligibility
- Inclusion Criteria:
■ Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease with positive thyroid autoantibodies (TgAb,
TPO, TSI, and/or TRAb) undergoing total thyroidectomy for their disease.
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Pediatric patients < 18
- Prior treatment with RAI
- Prior neck surgeries
- Known diagnosis of thyroid cancer
- Diabetic patients on medications
- A history of adverse reactions to corticosteroids.
- Patients on any immunosuppressive regimen (such as organ transplant patients or patients treated for other autoimmune conditions). This includes patients with recent history of steroid therapy, or a history of adverse reactions to corticosteroids.