Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study sample

Age (years), Median (IQR), n = 189

38.0( 33.00, 49.00)

BMI(kg/m2), Mean(SD) n = 189

29.1(6.11)

Gender, female, n (%)

136(72%)

^*Free T4 upon diagnosis(pmol/l), Mean (SD), n = 189

27.2 (9.93)

^**Free T3 upon diagnosis(pmol/l), Median (IQR), n = 185

9.7( 6.80, 17.05)

^$Thyroid uptake on 99mTc-pertechnetate scan (%),Median (IQR), n = 146

10.0( 4.20, 16.69)

^$$TSH receptor antibodies level up on diagnosis(IU/l), Median (IQR), n = 166

6.7( 3.40, 15.80)

Mild ophthalmopathy, n (%), n = 181

129 ( 71.3% )

Moderate ophthalmopathy, n (%), n = 181

50 ( 27.6% )

Severe ophthalmopathy, n (%), n = 181

2 ( 1.1% )

Remission rate, n (%), n = 189

103 ( 54.5% )

Relapse rate after remission, n (%), n = 103

35 ( 34.0% )

Duration of ATDs treatment before remission (months), Median (IQR), n = 103

29.0( 20.00, 42.00)

Time to relapse after remission (months), Median (IQR), n = 32

14.0( 7.00, 20.00)