Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls

Ablative approaches using radioiodine are increasingly proposed for the treatment of Graves′ disease (GD) but their ophthalmologic and biological autoimmune responses remain controversial and data concerning clinical and biochemical outcomes are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid...

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Main Authors: J. Nwatsock, D. Taieb, L. Tessonnier, J. Mancini, F. Dong-A-Zok, O. Mundler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2012-01-01
Series:World Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.98731
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author J. Nwatsock
D. Taieb
L. Tessonnier
J. Mancini
F. Dong-A-Zok
O. Mundler
author_facet J. Nwatsock
D. Taieb
L. Tessonnier
J. Mancini
F. Dong-A-Zok
O. Mundler
author_sort J. Nwatsock
collection DOAJ
description Ablative approaches using radioiodine are increasingly proposed for the treatment of Graves′ disease (GD) but their ophthalmologic and biological autoimmune responses remain controversial and data concerning clinical and biochemical outcomes are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function, TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and Graves′ ophthalmopathy (GO) occurrence after radioiodine thyroid ablation in GD. We reviewed 162 patients treated for GD by iodine-131 (131 I) with doses ranging from 370 to 740 MBq, adjusted to thyroid uptake and sex, over a 6-year period in a tertiary referral center. Collected data were compared for outcomes, including effectiveness of radioiodine therapy (RIT) as primary endpoint, evolution of TRAb, and occurrence of GO as secondary endpoints. The success rate was 88.3% within the first 6 months after the treatment. The RIT failure was increased in the presence of goiter (adjusted odds ratio = 4.1, 95% confidence interval 1.4-12.0, P = 0.010). The TRAb values regressed with time (r = −0.147; P = 0.042) and patients with a favorable outcome had a lower TRAb value (6.5 ± 16.4 U/L) than those with treatment failure (23.7 ± 24.2 U/L, P < 0.001). At the final status, 48.1% of patients achieved normalization of serum TRAb. GO occurred for the first time in 5 patients (3.7%) who were successfully cured for hyperthyroidism but developed early and prolonged period of hypothyroidism in the context of antithyroid drugs (ATD) intolerance (P = 0.003) and high TRAb level (P = 0.012). On the basis the results of this study we conclude that ablative RIT is effective in eradicating Graves′ hyperthyroidism but may be accompanied by GO occurrence, particularly in patients with early hypothyroidism and high pretreatment TRAb and/or ATD intolerance. In these patients, we recommend an early introduction of LT4 to reduce the duration and the degree of the radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.
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spelling doaj-art-4580f678e4f843ffb03a2c98971327af2025-08-20T03:48:36ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.World Journal of Nuclear Medicine1450-11471607-33122012-01-01110171110.4103/1450-1147.98731Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and PitfallsJ. Nwatsock0D. Taieb1L. Tessonnier2J. Mancini3F. Dong-A-Zok4O. Mundler5Service Central de Biophysique et de Médecine Nucléaire, CHU de la Timone; 264 Rue Saint, Pierre 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, FranceService Central de Biophysique et de Médecine Nucléaire, CHU de la Timone; 264 Rue Saint, Pierre 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, FranceService Central de Biophysique et de Médecine Nucléaire, CHU de la Timone; 264 Rue Saint, Pierre 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, FranceService d′Epidémiologie, CHU de la Timone; 264 Rue Saint, Pierre 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, FranceService de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital Général de Yaoundé; BP: 5408 Yaoundé, CamerounService Central de Biophysique et de Médecine Nucléaire, CHU de la Timone; 264 Rue Saint, Pierre 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, FranceAblative approaches using radioiodine are increasingly proposed for the treatment of Graves′ disease (GD) but their ophthalmologic and biological autoimmune responses remain controversial and data concerning clinical and biochemical outcomes are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function, TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and Graves′ ophthalmopathy (GO) occurrence after radioiodine thyroid ablation in GD. We reviewed 162 patients treated for GD by iodine-131 (131 I) with doses ranging from 370 to 740 MBq, adjusted to thyroid uptake and sex, over a 6-year period in a tertiary referral center. Collected data were compared for outcomes, including effectiveness of radioiodine therapy (RIT) as primary endpoint, evolution of TRAb, and occurrence of GO as secondary endpoints. The success rate was 88.3% within the first 6 months after the treatment. The RIT failure was increased in the presence of goiter (adjusted odds ratio = 4.1, 95% confidence interval 1.4-12.0, P = 0.010). The TRAb values regressed with time (r = −0.147; P = 0.042) and patients with a favorable outcome had a lower TRAb value (6.5 ± 16.4 U/L) than those with treatment failure (23.7 ± 24.2 U/L, P < 0.001). At the final status, 48.1% of patients achieved normalization of serum TRAb. GO occurred for the first time in 5 patients (3.7%) who were successfully cured for hyperthyroidism but developed early and prolonged period of hypothyroidism in the context of antithyroid drugs (ATD) intolerance (P = 0.003) and high TRAb level (P = 0.012). On the basis the results of this study we conclude that ablative RIT is effective in eradicating Graves′ hyperthyroidism but may be accompanied by GO occurrence, particularly in patients with early hypothyroidism and high pretreatment TRAb and/or ATD intolerance. In these patients, we recommend an early introduction of LT4 to reduce the duration and the degree of the radioiodine-induced hypothyroidism.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.98731autoimmunitygraves′ diseaseophthalmopathyradioiodine therapy
spellingShingle J. Nwatsock
D. Taieb
L. Tessonnier
J. Mancini
F. Dong-A-Zok
O. Mundler
Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
World Journal of Nuclear Medicine
autoimmunity
graves′ disease
ophthalmopathy
radioiodine therapy
title Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
title_full Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
title_fullStr Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
title_full_unstemmed Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
title_short Radioiodine Thyroid Ablation in Graves′ Hyperthyroidism: Merits and Pitfalls
title_sort radioiodine thyroid ablation in graves hyperthyroidism merits and pitfalls
topic autoimmunity
graves′ disease
ophthalmopathy
radioiodine therapy
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.98731
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AT jmancini radioiodinethyroidablationingraveshyperthyroidismmeritsandpitfalls
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