Role and effectiveness of radioactive-iodine therapy for the treatment of Grave’s disease

Abstract

The treatment of Graves’ disease is based on three therapies: medical treatment with synthetic antithyroid agents, surgery and radioactive-iodine therapy. The purpose of our study was to study the role and effectiveness of radioactive-iodine therapy for the treatment of Graves’ disease. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of the epidemiological, clinical, paralclinical and therapeutic features of 54 patients with Graves’ disease managed and treated with iodine-131 as well as of their short-and medium-term remission rate. The sex ratio was 0.45. The average age of patients was 38,33 ± 12.7 years. The most common functional signs were weight loss, tremors and palpitations. Mean FT4 was 54,51 ± 19,56 ng/dl (ranging from 8,90 and 100). Mean TSHus was 0,074 ± 0,29 µIU/ml. Synthetic antithyroid drugs were used in 49 patients; 83,67% of cases had persistent hyperthyroidism. Radioactive-iodine therapy was used as first-line therapy in 9,3% of cases and as second-line therapy in 90,7% of cases. Mean activity was 13,29 mCi ± 1,46 ranging from 10 to 15 mCi. The first assessment of hormonal status was performed after an average post-treatment period of 1,91 months; 29 patients (53,7%) achieved remission (eu-or hypo-thyroidism). After a 12 month-follow-up, patients’ course was marked by remission in 88,88% of cases (euthyroidism in 14,8% and hypothyroidism in 74% of cases). Radioactive-iodine therapy is an effective treatment for Graves’ disease. High radioactive iodine dose provides high remission rate.