Therapeutic Plasmapheresis Enabling Radioactive Iodine Treatment in a Patient with Thyrotoxicosis

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is one possible treatment for patients resistant to conventional antithyroid drugs or requiring urgent attention for thyrotoxicosis. We report a 35-yr-old man with thyrotoxicosis, ultimately attributed to Graves' disease in whom antithyroid drug used initially was soon discontinued, due to abnormal liver function, and replaced by Lugol's solution. Three weeks later, an escape phenomenon (to Lugol's solution) was apparent, so we performed TPE to control the thyrotoxicosis. Two courses of TPE by a centrifugal type machine resulted in diminished levels of thyroid hormone levels, which then rebounded after another two courses of membrane filtration type TPE. However, the patient could be treated with radioactive iodine therapy without any complications at present.

Avaliação do surgimento de comorbidades em pacientes com doença de Graves tratados com iodo radioativo em acompanhamento por mais de 10 anos / Emerging comorbidities in Graves' disease patients treated with radioiodine with more than 10 years of follow-up

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o surgimento de comorbidades cardiovasculares e/ou neoplásicas e a taxa de mortalidade nos pacientes com hipertireoidismo em decorrência da doença de Graves tratados com iodo radioativo há mais de 10 anos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo com análise de prontuários do Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, entre janeiro de 1981 e novembro de 1999. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 107 pacientes (93 mulheres e 14 homens), com uma mediana de idade de 54 anos. Comparando o grupo de pacientes que receberam iodo radiativo com grupo de pacientes eutireoidianos pós-tratamento com drogas antitireoidianas (DAT), foi observado aumento significativo no surgimento de hipertensão arterial (HAS) e dislipidemia, mas não na taxa de mortalidade. CONCLUSÃO: Para avaliar a real influência da terapêutica com iodo radioativo no surgimento dessas comorbidades e na taxa de mortalidade, é necessário um tempo maior de acompanhamento. A idade e o tempo de exposição aos efeitos do hipertireoidismo parecem influenciar no surgimento dessas comorbidades.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the occurrence of cardiovascular disease and malignant tumors and the mortality rate in patients who received radioiodine treatment for hyperthyroidism due to Grave's disease with at least ten years of follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all patients who were treated with I131 for Graves' disease at Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, were reviewed retrospectively, between January, 1981 and November, 1999. RESULTS: Data from 107 patients (14 men and 93 women), with median age of 54 years were analyzed. Comparing the group of patients who were treated with I131 therapy with a group of euthyroid patients post-treatment with antithyroid drugs, a significant increase in the occurrence of hypertension and dyslipidemia was observed, but not in mortality rate. CONCLUSION: To evaluate the real influence of the treatment with radioactive iodine in the occurrence of these comorbidities and the mortality rate, we need a longer follow-up. The age and time of exposure to the effects of hyperthyroidism seem to influence the occurrence of these comorbidities.

Factores pronósticos de fracaso terapéutico al radioyodo en enfermedad de Graves / Frequency and prognostic factors of radioiodine treatment failure in basedow Graves disease

Background: Radioiodine treatment fails in 17 percent of patients with Basedow Graves disease (BGD). Aim: To assess the frequency and possible associated factors of treatment failure of the first radioiodine dose in patients with BGD. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients with BGD treated with radioiodine at a general hospital between 2004 and 2008. Normal thyroid function or hypothyroidism ensuing after treatment were considered as treatment success criteria. Results: According to the databases of the hospital, 298 patients received radioiodine in the study period. Of these, 254 medical records were recovered and 86 were analyzed. Treatment success and failure was recorded in 67 (78 percent) and 19 (22 percent) patients, respectively. The mean dose used was 12 +/- 2 mCi. Clinically determined goiter size and a high free thyroxin level were significantly associated to treatment failure. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for a thyroid weight over 60 g, estimated clinically was 0.73, rendering a sensitivity and specificity of 63 and 89 percent respectively, for this parameter as predictor or treatment failure. Conclusions: Thyroid gland size may be a predictor of radioiodine treatment failure. However the variability of the clinical estimation of this parameter casts doubts about its usefulness.

[Effect of long-term continuous methimazole treatment of thyrotoxicosis: comparison with radioiodine]

The major complication of radioiodine therapy for thyrotoxicosis is hypothyroidism, the long-term management of which is often problematic. In this study, the long-term effects of continuous methimazole [MMI] therapy are investigated. One hundred and thirty-two patients, aged between 36-66 years, with Graves recurrence, were semi randomly randomized in 2 groups for continuous antithyroid and radioiodine treatment. The number of thyroid dysfunctions in each patient were recorded and serum TSH, FT4, Anti TPO, TRAb, FBS, HOMA IR, and lipid profiles were measured. Bone mineral density and echocardiography were performed. There was no significant differences in age, duration of symptoms and thyroid function between the 2 groups. No serious complications occurred in the MMI group and no difference in any of parameters was seen between groups 1 and 2. Goiter rate and anti TPO concentration were higher in group 1 than in group 2. Serum triglycerides and cholesterol were increased in group 2 as compared to group 1. Bone mineral density was more reduced in group 2, especially in the spine. Echocardiography showed diastolic dysfunction in group 2 as compared to group 1. Some parameters in neuro-pschyciatric evaluation were significantly better in the MMI group, as compared to the radioiodine one. Considering it is a safe treatment and has fewer complications, methimazole is another option for patients with recurrent Graves', who do not wish to use radioiodine

Perfil genetico de risco para doença de graves e para a oftalmopatia de graves em uma população brasileira / Genetic profile of risk to graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmology in a Brazilian population

A Doença de Graves é um processo imunológico em que a combinação de fatores genéticos e ambientais é fundamental. Vários genes têm sido propostos como envolvidos no desenvolvimento da doença, particularmente os genes do sistema HLA e os polimorfismos do gene CTLA-4. Com relação à Oftalmopatia de Graves, além dos fatores genéticos, o tabagismo é conhecido como um importante fator de seu desenvolvimento. Nós previamente demonstramos que a herança de polimorfismos em genes relacionados ao metabolismo e detoxificação de xenobióticos, além de genes relacionados a apoptose celular, como TP53, tem uma importante ação na suscetibilidade para essas doenças. Nosso objetivo foi determinar as relações entre o polimorfismo do gene CTLA-4 região promotora -318, CYP1A1m1, GSTP1 e 72TP53 e os riscos para Doença de Graves e Oftalmopatia de Graves. Avaliar a relação entre fatores clínicos (idade, sexo, etnia, tabagismo, tamanho do bócio), laboratoriais (TSH, T4livre, T3total, ANTITPO, antiTg, TRAb), de imagem (captação tiroidiana com tecnécio ou iodo131) e de tipo de tratamento (radioiodo, drogas antitiroidianas e cirurgia) . Estudamos um total de 193 pacientes com Doença de Graves comparados com 200 indivíduos-controle, pareados por idade e etnia. A análise genética foi realizada através de PCR-RFLP em DNA extraído de sangue periférico. Confirmando nossos dados anteriores, as variantes dos genes GSTP1 (p = 0,0007) e CYP1A1m1 (p < 0,0001 ) eram mais frequentes em pacientes com Doença de Graves do que em controles, mas isso não ocorreu com o gene CTLA-4, região promotora -318 (p = 0,12) ou nas variantes 72TP53 (p = 0,27). Estudando o mesmo polimorfismo na Oftalmopatia de Graves, observamos que o genótipo...

Graves' disease is an immunologic process in which the combination of environmental and genetic factors is fundamental. Various genes have been proposed as involved in the development of the disease, particularly HLA system genes and the polymorphisms of CTLA-4 gene. Concerning Graves' ophthalmopathy, besides the genetic factor, smoking is a well accepted factor of its development. We previously demonstrated that the inheritance of polymorphisms in genes related to the metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotics, such as CYP1A1 and GSTP1 genes, besides the genes related to cellular apoptosis, such as TP53, have an important role in the susceptibility to these diseases. Our objective was to determine the relationship among CTLA-4 gene and CYP1A1m1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and 72TP53 genes in the risk for Graves' disease. We studied a total 193 Graves' disease patients compared to 200 control individuals, matched for age and ethnicity. The genetic analysis was done with the use of PCR-RFLP in DNA extracted from peripheral blood. Reinforcing our previous data, GSTP1 (p=0.0007) and CYP1A1m1 (p<0.0001) variants were more frequent among Graves' disease patients than in controls, but this did not happen to CTLA-4 position 318 (p=0.12) or to TP53 variants...

Efeitos agudos laringológicos e vocais da radioiodoterapia em pacientes com hipertireoidismo por doença de Basedow Graves / Acute effects of radioiodine therapy on the voice and larynx of Basedow-Graves patients

A Doença de Graves constitui a forma mais comum de hipertireoidismo e três abordagens terapêuticas são atualmente utilizadas: uso de medicamentos antitireoideanos, cirurgia e iodo radioativo (I 131). Os efeitos do o I 131 e a indução precoce de hipotireoidismo são conseqüências da destruição induzida do I131 sobre o parênquima tireoideano. São poucos relatos encontrados na literatura acerca dos efeitos da radioioterapia sobre a laringe e conseqüentemente na produção vocal. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos agudos sobre a voz da radioiodoterapia em pacientes com hipertireoidismo por Doença de Basedow Graves. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo de corte contemporâneo longitudinal, prospectivo. Procedimentos: Investigação vocal, mensuração do tempo máximo fonatório de /a/ e relação s/z, análise freqüência fundamental (Software Praat), laringoscopia e análise perceptivo-auditiva em três momentos: pré-dose, 4 dias e 20 dias pós dose. Momentos baseados no perfil inflamatório do tecido tireoideano. RESULTADOS: Não houve mudanças estatisticamente significantes nos aspectos vocais e laringológicos nos três momentos avaliados. CONCLUSÃO: A radioiodoterapia não afeta a qualidade vocal.

Graves's disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. There are three current therapeutic options: anti-thyroid medication, surgery, and radioactive iodine (I 131). There are few data in the literature regarding the effects of radioiodine therapy on the larynx and voice. The aim and the AIM: os this study was: to assess the effect of radioiodine therapy on the voice of Basedow-Graves patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective study was done. Following the diagnosis of Grave's disease, patients underwent investigation of their voice, measurement of maximum phonatory time (/a/) and the s/z ratio, fundamental frequency analysis (Praat software), laringoscopy and (perceptive-auditory) analysis in three different conditions: pre-treatment, 4 days, and 20 days post-radioiodine therapy. Conditions are based on the inflammatory pattern of thyroid tissue (Jones et al. 1999). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in voice characteristics in these three conditions. CONCLUSION: Radioiodine therapy does not affect voice quality.

Avaliação da radioiodoterapia com doses fixas de 10 e 15 mCi em pacientes com doença de graves / Evaluation of radioiodine therapy with fixed doses of 10 and 15 mCi in patients with graves’ disease

As opções terapêuticas para a hipertireoidismo da doença de Graves são as drogas antitireoidianas, a cirurgia e o radioiodo, porém nenhuma delas é considerada ideal pois não atuam diretamente na etiopatogênese da doença. O radioiodo vem sendo cada vez mais utilizado como primeira escolha, sendo um tratamento definitivo, seguro e de fácil administração. Há autores que preferem doses mais altas para induzir deliberadamente o hipotireoidismo, enquanto outros recomendam doses mais baixas que, a curto prazo, implicam menor incidência de hipotireoidismo e maior de eutireoidismo. Não há consenso sobre o melhor esquema de doses fixas a ser utilizado, sendo esse o principal enfoque deste estudo, no qual comparamos doses de 10 e 15 mCi. Dos 164 pacientes analisados, 61 (37,2 por cento) foram submetidos a 10 mCi e 103 (62,8 por cento), a 15 mCi de 131I. Na análise longitudinal, observou-se que a remissão do hipertireoidismo foi estatisticamente diferente no sexto mês (p < 0,001), sendo maior no grupo em que foi empregada a dose de 15 mCi. Contudo, foi semelhante nos dois grupos após 12 e 24 meses. É possível concluir que doses fixas de 10 e 15 mCi promovem semelhante remissão do hipertireoidismo após 12 meses de tratamento. A remissão do hipertireoidismo não teve associação com idade, sexo ou uso prévio de drogas antitireoidianas.

The treatment options for the hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease are antithyroid drugs, surgery and radioiodine, none of which is considered ideal, as they do not act directly on the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Radioiodine has been increasingly used as the treatment of choice because it is a safe and definitive therapy whose administration is very easy. Some authors prefer to administer higher doses in order to deliberately induce hypothyroidism, while others recommend lower doses that result in a lower incidence of hypothyroidism and a greater incidence of euthyroidism. There is no consensus for the optimal regimen of fixed doses to be used and this is the main focus of the present study, where doses of 10 and 15 mCi of 131I were compared. Among the 164 patients analyzed, 61 (37.2 percent) were submitted to 10 mCi and 103 (62.8 percent) to 15 mCi. In the longitudinal analysis it was observed that remission of the hyperthyroidism was statistically different in the sixth month (p < 0.001), being higher in the group that used the dose of 15 mCi, but similar in both groups at 12 and 24 months. It may be concluded that the administration of fixed doses of 10 and 15 mCi of 131I brought about a similar remission of the hyperthyroidism after 12 months of treatment. Moreover, the remission rate of the hyperthyroidism had no association with age, sex or previous therapy with antithyroid drugs.

Tratamento clínico com drogas antitireoidianas ou dose terapêutica de iodo-131 no controle do hipertireoidismo na doença de graves: avaliação dos custos e benefícios / Anti-thyroid drugs or 131I therapy to control the hyperthyroidism of graves disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis / Anti-thyroid drugs or 131I therapy to control the hyperthyroidism of graves disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Com o objetivo de avaliar os custos e a efetividade das 2 formas de tratamento mais utilizadas em nosso meio para a Doença de Graves, iodo radioativo e tratamento clínico prolongado, analisamos pacientes submetidos a essas terapias na região de Maringá, PR. Foram estudados 23 pacientes, 7 homens e 16 mulheres, com idade média de 35,4 anos, submetidos ao tratamento clínico, e 34 pacientes, 5 homens e 29 mulheres, com idade média de 39,4 anos, submetidos à dose terapêutica com iodeto de sódio (iodo-131). Após 2 anos de tratamento clínico com tiamazol (Tapazol®), 21 pacientes atingiram o eutireoidismo e dois permaneceram hipertireóideos. No grupo da dose terapêutica com iodeto de sódio (iodo-131), 21 pacientes evoluíram para o hipotireoidismo, enquanto que 13 atingiram o eutireoidismo. Para o cálculo do custo de cada modalidade de tratamento, analisamos o número de consultas necessárias durante o seguimento, exames complementares solicitados e medicações utilizadas, como tiamazol e/ou tiroxina. O grupo submetido ao tratamento clínico necessitou de maior número de consultas e exames, sendo que o custo médio foi de R$ 1.345,81 neste período de dois anos, enquanto que no grupo com iodeto de sódio (iodo-131) o valor médio foi de R$ 622,94. Assim, os custos da dose terapêutica com iodeto de sódio (iodo-131) foram 53,7 por cento menores do que o tratamento clínico com drogas antitireoidianas. Este trabalho demonstra que o tratamento com dose terapêutica com iodeto de sódio (iodo-131) apresenta um menor custo, sendo bastante efetivo no controle do hipertireoidismo na doença de Graves.

In this study, we set out to evaluate the costs and effectiveness of the 2 most used therapies in our region, ATD or RAI. 23 patients, 6 men and 16 women, with a mean age of 35.4 years, treated with ATD, and 35 patients, 5 men and 30 women, mean age of 39.4 years, treated with RAI, were studied. After 2 years receiving ATD, 21 patients achieved euthyroidism and 2 remained hyperthyroid. In the RAI group, 21 patients presented hypothyroidism and 13 became euthyroid. To calculate the costs of each therapy, we analyzed the number of visits during this period, the laboratory data and the drugs needed, such as tiamazol and/or thyroxine. The group treated only with ATD needed a higher number of visits and laboratory measurements, with the mean total cost of R$ 1,345.81, while the RAI group spent a mean amount of R$ 622.94. Therefore, the costs of the RAI treatment were 53.5 percent lower than clinical therapy with ATD. The present study demonstrates that RAI treatment has a lower cost than ATD, being very effective in controlling the hyperthyroidism of Graves disease.

Radioactive iodine therapy in Graves' hyperthyroidism: a prospective study from a tertiary referral centre in north India.

BACKGROUND: Radioactive iodine has gained widespread acceptance as the first-line therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism and is the preferred treatment option in most situations. OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was conducted to look at the therapeutic practice of use of radioactive iodine in the treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism, to determine whether the expected or desired therapeutic outcome is achieved. SETTINGS: A tertiary referral centre in north India, Delhi that caters to patients with thyroid disorders. METHODS: One hundred and seventy four consecutive subjects with Graves' hyperthyroidism, who were given radioactive iodine were followed up. RESULTS: There were 59 (33.9%) males and 115 (66.1%) females. The mean age was 41.8 +/- 9 years. The dose of radioactive iodine ranged from 2 mCi to 15 mCi and the mean dose administered was 5.2 +/- 1.9 mCi. After one year following radioactive iodine therapy, 29 (16.7%) subjects were euthyroid, 51 (29.3%) were hypothyroid and the remaining 94 (54%) had persisting hyperthyroidism. Those subjects with persisting hyperthyroidism at one year after radioactive iodine had received a significantly lower dose compared to the groups who had achieved cure (either euthyroidism or hypothyroidism). CONCLUSION: The study shows that the current practice of empirical low dose radioactive iodine therapy to avoid hypothyroidism results in majority of patients having persisting hyperthyroidism. There is a need to take a new look at the current practice to increase the cure rate.

Avaliação do tratamento definitivo do hipertireoidismo com radioiodo na Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro / Evaluation of radioiodine therapy as a definitive treatment for hyperthyroidism in the Triângulo Mineiro School of Medicine

O hipertireoidismo de origem auto-imune ou devido a doença autonômica da tireóide pode ser eficientemente controlado seja pela inibição temporária da hormoniogênese com as tiouréias, seja pela redução definitiva da massa folicular funcionante pela tireoidectomia ou administração de radioiodo. Com a intenção de conhecer os efeitos da radioiodoterapia na Faculdade de Medicina de Triângulo Mineiro, foram revisados 255 prontuários de pacientes com hipertireoidismo atendidos no ambulatório de tireóide entre janeiro de 1991 e 2001. O 1¹³¹ foi administrado a 61 pacientes portadores de doença de Basedow-Graves (DBG) (n=143), a seis com bócio multinodular tóxico (BMT) (n=17), e a 3 com bócio uninodular tóxico (BUI) (n=7). Apenas 1 caso de Hashitoxicese (n=40) de mais longa duração recebeu o mesmo tratamento. A maioria dos pacientes com DBG recebeu de 185 a 370MBq (5-10mCi) de 1¹³¹ e em dez pacientes com bócios volumosos foi necessário repetir a dose. Os pacientes com BMT e BUT receberam de 185 a 925MBg (5-25mCi) e uma segunda dose foi dada a três deles.Todos os pacientes foram curados do hipertireoidismo, não foram observadas complicações agudas, entretanto, o seguimento pós-dose até o momento detectou hipotireoidismo em 63% dos pacientes.

Hyperthyroidism either auto-immune or due to autonomic thyroid disease can be efficiently controlled by hormoniogenesis inhibition with antithyroid drugs or definitive reduction of functioning thyroid follicles number by either subtotal thyroidectomy or radioiodine administration. The effects of radioiodine therapy in the Triângulo Mineiro Medical School was investigated in 255 hyperthyroid patients treated between 1991 and 2001. 1¹³¹ was administered to 61 patients with Basedow-Graves disease (BGD), to six patients with multinodular toxic goiter (MTG), and to three patients with solitary toxic goiter (STG). Only one patient with Hashitoxicose ot unusual and longer duration received the same treatment. Patients with BGD were treated with 185 to 370MBq (5-10mCi) of 1¹³¹ but in ten of them with larger goiters it was necessary a second dose. Patients with MTG and STG received 185 to 925MBq (5-25mCi) and a second dose was given to three of them. All patients were considered cured from hyperthyroidism without acute complications, however follow up so far detected hypothyroidism in 63%.

Utilização do 131I no tratamento da doença de Basedow-Graves na infância e adolescência / Radioactive iodine therapy for Graves' disease in childhood and adolescence

Embora o diagnóstico da Doença de Graves (DG) na infância e adolescência seja relativamente fácil, seu tratamento ainda é controverso. Pode-se utilizar fármacos anti-tireoideanos (MMZ ou PTU), porém a incidência de efeitos adversos nessa faixa etária é maior que nos adultos e a taxa de remissão é baixa, mesmo com o uso prolongado. A cirurgia é pouco indicada como tratamento inicial, sendo realizada mais freqüentemente após recidiva do tratamento medicamentoso e/ou devido aos seus efeitos adversos. A utilização da radioiodoterapia na infância e adolescência vem crescendo. Com doses adequadas, ocorre o desenvolvimento de hipotireoidismo em cerca de 90 por cento dos casos num período de 3 a 6 meses. Os dados iniciais sugerem que o tratamento em crianças acima de 5 anos não parece estar associado a maior risco de carcinoma de tireóide. A prevalência de efeitos adversos é menor que na cirurgia. Pacientes que apresentam fatores clínicos ou laboratoriais de pior prognóstico evolutivo podem ter seu tratamento medicamentoso encurtado, sendo a indicação da radioiodoterapia realizada mais precocemente.

Radioactive iodine therapy in Graves' hyperthyroidism.

Graves' disease is a common condition encountered in clinical practice. The available modes of therapy for Graves' disease are antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and surgery. Radioiodine therapy is indicated in patients with nearly all causes of hyperthyroidism and is considered the treatment of choice for most patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism who are beyond the adolescent years. Pregnancy and breast-feeding are absolute contraindications. Although there are many ways of calculating the dose of radioiodine, fixed dose regimens are gaining acceptance. Hypothyroidism follows sooner or later in nearly all patients treated with radioiodine. Available evidence suggest that patients are best treated by a single thyroablative dose, the aim being elimination of hyperthyroidism, with larger doses accomplishing it with more certainty, and the inevitable hypothyroidism develops under physician control. Radioiodine therapy can lead to exacerbation of infiltrative ophthalmopathy and this can be prevented by the concomitant administration of corticosteroids. Radioiodine therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism has no adverse effects on the health of the offspring of treated patients. There are no definitive data that provide evidence for increased rates of thyroid cancer, leukaemia, infertility or neonatal abnormality in patients treated with radioiodine. Radioiodine therapy is safe, definitive and cost-effective.

Tratamiento del hipertiroidismo con radioyodo: efecto de la dosis administrada sobre la función tiroidea y complicaciones asociadas / Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioiodine: effects of administered dose on complications and thyroid function

Background: Radio-iodine is a definite therapy for Graves disease hyperthyroidism. However, the optimal dosage is still debatable. Aim: To assess the effects of different radioiodine doses on thyroid function and complications in patients with hyperthyroidism. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 139 patients with hyperthyroidism, treated with ratioiodine between 1988 and 1998. Radio iodine dose used was classified as low (<10 mCi), intermediate (10-14.9 mCi) or high (ü 15 mCi). Results: Thirty five patients were treated with low doses, 33 with intermediate doses and 71 with high doses. There were no differences between these patients in age, disease severity, frequency of post treatment euthyroidism or complications. Patients treated with low doses had a higher frequency of persistent hyperthyroidism than patients treated with high doses (25.7 and 4.2 percent respectively, p<0,001). Likewise, the frequency of subsequent hypothyroidism was 60 percent in patients treated with low doses and 84.5 percent of those with high doses, in whom it also appeared earlier. Associated complications were clinically irrelevant. In seven patients, Graves ophtalmopathy progressed after treatment, but this progression was not associated with the dose used. Conclusions: Radio iodine in high doses is useful, safe and effective for the treatment of Graves hyperthyroidism

Comparaçäo de captaçäo tireoidiana nos equipamentos Captus 600© e Thyrus© / Comparison between thyroid uptake values measured on Captus 600© and Thyrus© equipments

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar valores de captaçäo tireoidiana medidos em dois equipamentos diferentes: uma sonda própria para as medidas de captaçäo (Captus 600© - Capintec, USA) e uma mini gama-câmera (Thyrus© - Adac Laboratories). Foram estudados 122 pacientes, sendo 110 do sexo feminino e 12 do sexo masculino, com idades variando de 4 a 81 anos (média de 42,2 anos). Administraram-se, por via oral, doses de 0,74 MBq a 3,7 MBq de NaûüûI e as medidas de captaçäo tireoidiana foram realizadas cerca de 24 horas após, em ambos os equipamentos. Para o cálculo da captaçäo utilizou-se, nos dois casos, a medida de um tubo contendo soluçäo padräo devidamente colocado em um "phantom" de pescoço. Aplicou-se o teste de Wilcoxon aos valores obtidos, resultando em z calculado de -4,35, com nível de significância p < 0,001, levando-nos à conclusäo de que há significativa diferença nas medidas de captaçäo nos dois equipamentos

Graves disease results of two methods of the radical treatment

The graves disease remains one of the major preocupations of the endocrinologist. It's a variable disease and its treatment is purely symptomatic and medical in the first purpose. Surgical versus Radioactive Iodine treatment are discussed. Through a retrospective study of 250 cases of Graves disease, 150 patients treated by surgery and 100 by radioactive iodine, we tried a comparative evaluation of these two methods. The analysis of the patients documents shows that the complications are less frequent in the patients who received the radioactive iodine, did not present hypoparathyroidism [the major complication of surgery]. The hypothyroidism is observed in only 27% of the cases after 22 +/- 6,8 months, versus 4 1,5% in the patients who underwent surgery [17 +/- 4,8 months]