Graves' disease and radioiodine therapy

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Eschner ◽  
F. Sudbrock ◽  
I. Weber ◽  
K. Marx ◽  
M. Dietlein ◽  
...  

SummaryAim: This study was performed to determine the results of ablative radioiodine therapy (RIT) when the achieved dose in the thyroid was above 200 Gy and to characterize predictive factors for treatment outcome. Patients, methods: A total of 571 consecutive patients were observed for 12 months between July 2001 and June 2004. Inclusion criteria were a confirmed diagnosis Graves' disease, compensation of hyperthyroidism and withdrawal of antithyroid drugs two days before preliminary radioiodine-testing and RIT. The intended dose was 250 Gy and the therapeutically achieved dose was calculated from serial uptake measurements. The end-point measure was thyroid function 12 months after RIT; success was defined as elimination of hyperthyroidism. The relation between success rate and the achieved dose, thyroid volume, age and sex of patients, TSH- and TRAb-values and presence of ophthalmopathy was analysed. Results: Relief from hyperthyroidism was achieved in 96% of patients who received more than 200 Gy, even for thyroid volumes >40 ml. The success of ablative RIT was not influenced by age or sex of patients, or by TSH- or TRAb values or concomitant ophthalmopathy. The mean achieved dose in the thyroid was 298 Gy with a standard deviation of 74.6 Gy. Conclusion: To achieve a dose of over 200 Gy with the above standard deviation, we recommend calculating an intended dose of 250 Gy and using a dosimetric approach with early and late uptake values in the radioiodine test, to allow early therapeutic intervention should the posttherapeutic thyroid dose fall unexpectedly below 200 Gy.

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (04) ◽  
pp. 153-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Weber ◽  
W. Eschner ◽  
F. Sudbrock ◽  
M. Schmidt ◽  
M. Dietlein ◽  
...  

SummaryAim: This study was performed to analyse the impact of the choice of antithyroid drugs (ATD) on the outcome of ablative radioiodine therapy (RIT) in patients with Graves' disease. Patients, material, methods: A total of 571 consecutive patients were observed for 12 months after RIT between July 2001 and June 2004. Inclusion criteria were the confirmed diagnosis of Graves' disease, compensation of hyperthyroidism and withdrawal of ATD two days before preliminary radioiodine-testing and RIT. The intended dose of 250 Gy was calculated from the results of the radioiodine test and the therapeutically achieved dose was measured by serial uptake measurements. The end-point measure was thyroid function 12 months after RIT; success was defined as elimination of hyperthyroidism. The pretreatment ATD was retrospectively correlated with the results achieved. Results: Relief from hyperthyroidism was achieved in 96 % of patients. 472 patients were treated with carbimazole or methimazole (CMI) and 61 with propylthiouracil (PTU). 38 patients had no thyrostatic drugs (ND) prior to RIT. The success rate was equal in all groups (CMI 451/472; PTU 61/61; ND 37/38; p=0.22). Conclusion: Thyrostatic treatment with PTU achieves excellent results in ablative RIT, using an accurate dosimetric approach with an achieved post-therapeutic dose of more than 200 Gy.


2004 ◽  
Vol 43 (06) ◽  
pp. 217-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Dressler ◽  
F. Grünwald ◽  
B. Leisner ◽  
E. Moser ◽  
Chr. Reiners ◽  
...  

SummaryThe version 3 of the guideline for radioiodine therapy for benign thyroid diseases presents first of all a revision of the version 2. The chapter indication for radioiodine therapy, surgical treatment or antithyroid drugs bases on an interdisciplinary consensus. The manifold criteria for decision making consider the entity of thyroid disease (autonomy, Graves’ disease, goitre, goitre recurrence), the thyroid volume, suspicion of malignancy, cystic nodules, risk of surgery and co-morbidity, history of subtotal thyroidectomy, persistent or recurrent thyrotoxicosis caused by Graves’ disease including known risk factors for relapse, compression of the trachea caused by goitre, requirement of direct therapeutic effect as well as the patient’s preference. Because often some of these criteria are relevant, the guideline offers the necessary flexibility for individual decisions. Further topics are patients’ preparation, counseling, dosage concepts, procedural details, results, side effects and follow-up care. The prophylactic use of glucocorticoids during radioiodine therapy in patients without preexisting ophthalmopathy as well as dosage and duration of glucocorticoid medication in patients with preexisting ophthalmopathy need to be clarified in further studies. The pragmatic recommendations for the combined use of radioiodine and glucocorticoids remained unchanged in the 3rd version.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fereidoun Azizi ◽  
Atieh Amouzegar

Abstract Background: Diffuse toxic goiter accounts for about 15% of all childhood thyroid diseases. There is great controversy over the management of Graves’ disease in children and adolescents. This article reports our experience in 304 children and juvenile patients with Graves’ disease. Methods: Between 1981 and 2015, 304 patients aged 5–19 years with diffuse toxic goiter were studied, of whom 296 patients were treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD) for 18 months. Patients with persistent or relapsed hyperthyroidism who refused ablative therapy with surgery or radioiodine were managed with continuous methimazole (MMI) treatment. Results: In 304 patients (245 females and 59 males), the mean age was 15.6±2.6 years. After 18 months of ATD therapy, 37 remained in remission and of the 128 who relapsed, two, 29 and 97 patients chose surgery, continuous ATD and radioiodine therapy, respectively. Of the 136 patients who received radioiodine, 66.2% became hypothyroid. Twenty-nine patients received continuous ATD therapy for 5.7±2.4 years. The mean MMI dose was 4.6±12 mg daily, no serious complications occurred and all of them remained euthyroid during the follow-up. Less abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values were observed in these patients, as compared to patients who were on a maintenance dose of levothyroxine after radioiodine induced hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Original treatment with ATD and subsequent radioiodine therapy remain the mainstay of treatment for juvenile hyperthyroidism. Continuous ATD administration may be considered as another treatment modality for hyperthyroidism.


2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (04) ◽  
pp. 111-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Urbannek ◽  
E. Voth ◽  
D. Moka ◽  
H. Schicha

SummaryAim: Premedication with antithyroid drugs (ATD) compared to patients not pretreated with ATD causes a higher failure rate of radioiodine therapy (RITh) or demands higher therapeutical dosage of radioiodine (Rl). For clinical reasons and because of accelerated iodine metabolism in hyperthyreosis a compensated thyroid metabolism is desirable. Aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ATD on the biokinetics of Rl in case of Graves’ disease in order to improve RITh of patients pretreated with ATD. Methods: 385 consecutive patients who underwent RITh because of Graves’ disease for the first time were included: Group A (n = 74): RITh under continuous medication with ATD; Group B (ç = 111): Application of Rl under continuous medication with ATD, in case of insufficient Rl-uptake or shortened effective Rl-half-life ATD were stopped 1-5 days after RITh; Group C (n = 200): ATD were stopped 2 days prior to RITh in all patients. We examined the influence of ATD on Rl-uptake and effective Rl-half-life as well as the absorbed dose achieved on the thyroid in dependence of thyroid volume and applied Rl-dosage [TEQ - therapy efficiency quotient, (2)]. Results: In the Rl-pretest (all patients under ATD) the Rl-uptake was comparable in all three groups. During RITh Rl-uptake, effective Rl-half-life and therefore the TEQ were significantly higher in Group C as compared to Groups A and B (ñ <0,001, respectively). In Group B the medication with ATD was stopped in 61 of 111 cases 1-5 days after RITh. In this subgroup the effective Rl-half-life increased from 4,4 ± 1,7 d to 5,1 ± 1,6 d after stopping of ATD (ñ = 0,001). Conclusion: Stopping of ATD 2 days prior to RITh leads to an increased efficiency of about 50% compared to RITh carried out under ATD and therefore to a clear reduction of radiation exposure to the rest of the body with equal absorbed doses of the thyroid. Stopping of ATD shortly after RITh increases efficiency in case of short effective Rl-half-life, but it is inferior to stopping ATD 2 days prior to RITh.


2007 ◽  
Vol 46 (03) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Moka ◽  
U. Reinholz ◽  
M. Schmidt ◽  
K. Schomäcker ◽  
H. Schicha ◽  
...  

Summary Aim: Graves' hyperthyroidism and antithyroid drugs empty the intrathyroid stores of hormones and iodine. The consequence is rapid 131I turnover and impending failure of radioiodine therapy. Can administration of additional inactive iodide improve 131I kinetics? Patients, methods: Fifteen consecutive patients, in whom the 48 h post-therapeutically calculated thyroid dose was between 150 and 249 Gy due to an unexpectedly short half-life, received 3 × 200 μg inactive potassium-iodide (127I) daily for 3 days (Group A), while 17 consecutive patients with a thyroid dose of ≥ 250 Gy (Group B) served as the non-iodide group. 48 hours after 131I administration (M1) and 4 or 5 days later (M2) the following parameters were compared: effective 131I half-life, thyroid dose, total T3, total T4, 131I-activity in the T3- and T4-RIAs. Results: In Group A, the effective 131I half-life M1 before iodine (3.81 ± 0.93 days) was significantly (p <0.01) shorter than the effective 131I half-life M2 (4.65 ± 0.79 days). Effective 131I half-life M1 correlated with the benefit from inactive 127I (r = –0.79): Administration of 127I was beneficial in patients with an effective 131I half-life M1 of <3 or 4 days. Patients from Group A with high initial specific 131I activity of T3 and T4 showed lower specific 131I activity after addition of inactive iodine compared with patients from the same group with a lower initial specific 131I activity of T3 and T4 and compared with the patient group B who was given no additional inactive iodide. This correlation was mathematically described and reflected in the flatter gradient in Group A (y = 0.5195x + 0.8727 for 131I T3 and y = 1.0827x – 0.4444 for 131I T4) and steeper gradient for Group B (y = 0.6998x + 0.5417 for 131I T3 and y = 1.3191x – 0.2901 for 131I T4). Radioiodine therapy was successful in all 15 patients from Group A. Conclusion: The administration of 600 μg inactive iodide for three days during radioiodine therapy in patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism and an unexpectedly short half-life of <3 or 4 days was a safe and effective alternative to the administration of a second radioiodine capsule


2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zimny ◽  
M. Schreckenberger ◽  
P. Reinartz ◽  
B. Nowak ◽  
E. Ostwald ◽  
...  

Summary Aim of this study was a characterization of radioiodine therapy (RIT) failures in Graves’ disease without simultaneous Carbimazole. Method: 226 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Graves’ disease received 686.8 ± 376.4 MBq of iodine-131 orally for thyroid ablation. Target dose was 250 Gy. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Therapy failures were compared with successes regarding possible influencing variables initial thyroid volume, thyroid function, immune activity (TRAb), 1-131 uptake, effective half-life, absorbed energy dose, age and gender. Results: 212 of 226 patients (93.8%) were treated successfully, 14 (6.2%) showed a hyperthyroidism relapse within 6 months which required a second radioiodine therapy. A success rate of 92.5% (62/67) could also be achieved with 67 patients who were hyperthyroid at the time of RIT. Compared to the therapy successes, the 14 failures achieved significantly lower absorbed doses (223.8 ±76.6 Gyvs. 285.2 ±82.1 Gy, ρ <0.005), but with no significant differences regarding age, thyroid volume, function or TRAb (all ρ >0.2). Of the 14 failures, η = 8 reached an absorbed dose <200 Gy and η = 1 a dose <250 Gy, although 5 of the failures reached an absorbed dose of >250 Gy. Stepwise logistic regression revealed only absorbed energy dose as a variable significantly influencing therapy success (p <0.005), but no influence of initial thyroid volume, function, TRAb value, age (all ρ >0.2) or gender (p = 0.13). Two-tailed Fisher’s exact test showed no significant influence of gender on success rates (failures/successes: male 1 /36, female 13/176, ρ = 0.48). Conclusions: Except for the absorbed energy dose, no other significant variable influencing the outcome of radioiodine therapy in Graves’ disease without simultaneous Carbimazole could be found. It should be noted, though, that 5 therapy failures (2.2%) reached an absorbed energy dose of >250 Gy.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 55-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Whiteside ◽  
C. Hodgson

This brief study investigates the development of fundamental frequency (FO) in pre-adolescent children as a function of age and sex. The children who took part in the study were divided into three age groups: 6, 8 and 10 years. Each group consisted of three males and three females. Each subject produced nine target phrases with [] in phrase-final position, which were elicited via a picture-naming task. FO was estimated for the nine target utterances and the following FO parameters were derived: mean FO for the whole phrase; FO range for the whole phrase; standard deviation values of FO for the whole phrase and mean FO for the phrase-final vowel [α:]. Results indicated that FO parameters generally decreased with age, and by age 10 years the males had lower values than the females for all four parameters. Results also indicated that the mean standard deviation of FO across the phrase was significantly higher for the females compared to that for the males.


2002 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Bonnema ◽  
L Bartalena ◽  
AD Toft ◽  
L Hegedus

In routine use for more than 50 years, radioiodine ((131)I) is generally considered safe and devoid of major side effects. Therefore, it is surprising that relatively many aspects of radioiodine therapy are controversial, as illustrated by recent international questionnaire studies. Our review aims at highlighting three of these areas - namely, the influence of (131)I on the course of Graves' ophthalmopathy, the possible radioprotective effects of antithyroid drugs, and the use of (131)I in large goitres. (131)I therapy carries a small (but definite) risk of causing progression of Graves' ophthalmopathy. Identification of risk factors (thyroid dysfunction, high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies, cigarette smoking) allows the identification of patients at risk and the institution of concomitant glucocorticoid treatment, thereby hindering progression of eye disease. On the basis, largely, of retrospective data, it appears that carbimazole (or methimazole), if stopped 3-5 days before treatment, does not influence the outcome of (131)I therapy. Simultaneous thyrostatic medication most probably reduces the efficacy of (131)I, as does restarting it within 7 days. Propylthiouracil seems to have a more prolonged radioprotective effect than carbimazole. Surgery is the treatment of first choice in patients with a large goitre. However, in the case of patient ineligibility or preference, (131)I therapy may be an option. The treatment has a favourable effect on tracheal compression and inspiratory capacity, but the reduction in thyroid volume is only 30-40%. Inpatient treatment, necessitated by the large doses, makes the treatment cumbersome. Controversy related to radioiodine therapy is mainly based on the lack of adequate prospective randomised studies comparing efficacy, side effects, cost and patient satisfaction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 980-986
Author(s):  
Edwin Hong-Teck Loh ◽  
Feng Wei Soh ◽  
Brian See ◽  
Benjamin Boon Chuan Tan

BACKGROUND: Graves’ Disease (GD) is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. Although definitive treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) is preferred for military aircrew, there are cultural and individual differences in receptivity toward RAI, and clinical guidelines that recommend antithyroid drugs (ATD) as the first line therapy. We examined a case series of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aviators with GD treated with ATD and the impact of their condition on aeromedical disposition.CASE SERIES: All RSAF aircrew diagnosed with GD and treated with ATD over a 15-yr period were retrospectively identified and analyzed to determine the impact on their fitness for flying duties. The mean age of the 13 aircrew was 33 ± 7.1 yr (range, 25–47 yr), with 11 (84.6%) being males. There were 10 (76.9%) who had ATD as the only treatment while 3 (23.1%) were initially treated with ATD but subsequently underwent RAI or surgery. Of the 10 treated with only ATD, 3 (30.0%) were returned to restricted flying, 6 (60.0%) were returned to unrestricted flying, and 1 (10.0%) is still undergoing ATD titration. There were 10 (76.9%) aircrew who were returned to some form of flying duties while on low doses of ATD.DISCUSSION: This case series suggests that ATD is a viable treatment modality in the aeromedical management of military aviators with GD and it is possible to return military aircrew on a stable maintenance dose of ATD to flying duties. A framework is proposed to support the aeromedical decision-making process for military aircrew in the treatment of GD.Loh EH-T, Soh FW, See B, Tan BBC. Aeromedical decision making for military aircrew with Graves’ disease. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(12):980–986.


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