Does the dose of iodine-131 influence the incidence of Graves' ophthalmopathy?

Publication/Presentation Date

5-1-2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Radioactive iodine-131 (RAI) is an established treatment for patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism. RAI is reported to be associated with a 20-30% incidence of development or exacerbation of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). This study compares the progression of GO in patients who had evidence or no evidence of GO before RAI therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients were studied. One group had no evidence whereas the other group had evidence of GO before RAI treatment. All underwent RAI therapy. Group A (27 patients, 18 women, nine men, age: 19-68 with a mean of 49 years) had pre-existing exophthalmos. Group B consisted of 21 patients (13 women, eight men, age: 30-63 with a mean of 43 years) developed exophthalmos after treatment. All patients underwent RAI therapy and followed by ophthalmologists.

RESULTS: The average administered dose in group A was 24.3 mCi (range: 10-36.2 mCi) compared with group B: 25.4 mCi (range: 13-35.9 mCi), P=0.60. Ten (37%) of the 27 patients in group A experienced worsening of symptoms post-treatment. There was no significant difference between the administered dose of RAI in patients with worsening symptoms, 25.1 mCi versus patients with stable symptoms, 24.5 mCi (P=0.82). However, group A developed GO symptoms earlier than group B (4.5 vs. 9.5 months), P=0.02.

CONCLUSION: RAI is known to exacerbate ophthalmopathy. Our study showed it was not dose-dependent. Patients without a previous history of GO were observed to have a significantly delayed period for the development of symptoms.

Volume

40

Issue

5

First Page

455

Last Page

460

ISSN

1473-5628

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology

PubMedID

30855542

Department(s)

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging

Document Type

Article

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