Objective The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of glucocorticoid pulse therapy on thyroid function and thyroid antibodies in children with Graves' disease (GD).Methods Twenty children who were treated by intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPT) followed by oral prednisolone administration and antithyroid drugs were included in the pulse group. Twenty children who were treated with antithyroid drugs alone were included in the control group. Serum concentrations of free

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... iiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyrotropin (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), and thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) were recorded at baseline and 10 days, 30days, and 60 days after treatment. Results Significant differences in FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOAb, TGAb, and TRAb levels were found in both groups from baseline to follow-up time points (all P<0.05). On the 30th day, the TRAb level in the pulse group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.023). However, the level of TRAb rose on the 60th day. For values of TRAb at baseline, 10 days, and 60 days after treatment, there were no significant differences respectively between the two groups (all P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in FT3, FT4, TSH, TPOAb, and TGAb levels between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that the effects of intravenous MPT followed by oral prednisolone on TRAb level are temporary in children with GD. It is not helpful to the sustained recovery of thyroid function.