Radioactive-iodine therapy is an effective treatment for Graves' disease. High radioactive iodine dose provides high remission rate. Keywords: Grave’s disease; Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Over production of hormones by the thyroid gland located at the front of neck.
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine?
Long term side effects of radioactive iodine treatment vary depending on:
- your age
- other medical conditions
- your dose of radioactive iodine
What to expect after radioactive iodine treatment?
You can expect to live a fairly normal life after radioactive iodine treatment but your life will probably not be exactly as it was before your procedure. For most people, this means that you can expect to live at 80-90% of your 'normal'.
What are the risks of radioactive iodine treatment?
- Stay at least six feet away from other people, including members of the public, family members, and co-workers, for three to 11 days. ...
- Sleep apart from adults by at least six feet (a separate bedroom is recommended) and avoid sexual activity.
- Avoid sleeping in the same bed with a pregnant woman, infant, or child for a period of six to 23 days. ...
What are the side effects of radioactive iodine therapy?
Temporary side effects of RAI may include:
- Neck tenderness and swelling.
- Nausea.
- Swollen salivary glands.
- Loss of taste or taste change.
- Dry mouth/insufficient salivary production.
- Dry eyes.
- Excessive tearing from the eyes.
Does radioactive iodine cure Graves disease?
Radioiodine is an effective therapy for Graves' Disease with few complications. The majority of patients achieve remission with a single dose. Those who require a second dose are more likely to have higher TSH receptor antibody titres at diagnosis.
What happens after radioactive iodine treatment for Graves disease?
Some people may have a feeling of tightness or swelling in their neck for a few days after treatment. This is more common if you still had a large part of your thyroid gland when you have radioactive iodine treatment. Some people also feel flushed. Rarely, people can feel pain in their neck.
How does radioactive iodine work for Graves disease?
With this therapy, you take radioactive iodine (radioiodine) by mouth. Because the thyroid needs iodine to produce hormones, the thyroid takes the radioiodine into the thyroid cells and the radiation destroys the overactive thyroid cells over time.
Can Graves disease return after radioactive iodine treatment?
Abstract. The use of radioactive iodine (131I) in the treatment of Graves' disease results frequently in hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone supplementation. Relapse of Graves' disease months after inadequate treatment with 131I is well-recognized.
Will I gain weight after radioactive iodine treatment?
Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI or anti-thyroid medications is associated with an increased risk of gaining weight and even developing obesity. This risk is slightly higher with RAI therapy compared to medications.
What is the life expectancy with Graves disease?
Long-term prognosis6 months1 yearWomen76.667.8Men81.678.9Age (median)<47 years80.976.228 more rows
Is Graves disease a serious condition?
If left untreated, Graves' disease can lead to heart rhythm disorders, changes in the structure and function of the heart muscles, and the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body (heart failure).
Can Graves disease go into remission?
Similar to other autoimmune diseases, Graves' disease may fluctuate in activity, and patients may occasionally enter remission without any specific therapy being given (1).
What is the most common treatment for Graves disease?
Radioiodine therapy is a common and effective treatment. You can take radioactive iodine-131 by mouth as a capsule or liquid. Radioiodine therapy slowly destroys the cells of the thyroid gland that produce thyroid hormone. In the doses prescribed, radioiodine therapy does not affect other body tissues.
Can Graves disease be cured permanently?
Taken into account the above reviewed literature, permanent cure of Graves' hyperthyroidism is possible albeit at a low rate of about 27% (Fig. 2). The cure rate would be even lower if cure also supposes the absence of TSH receptor antibodies.
Can your thyroid regenerate after radioactive iodine?
Once hypothyroidism has been achieved, it is usually irreversible with the patient requiring lifelong thyroid replacement. Recurrence of hyperthyroidism after RAI therapy may be due to inadequate dosing or early Marine Lenhart syndrome.
Does Graves disease go away when thyroid is removed?
ANSWER: Thyroid removal is one of several treatment options that can effectively decrease symptoms of Graves' disease. Others include anti-thyroid medications and radioiodine. Each person is different, and no one treatment is best for everyone. A thyroidectomy often relieves symptoms of Graves' disease.
What is radioactive iodine used for?
Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Graves’ Disease. Radioactive iodine is widely used in the United States and North America to eliminate this form of hyperthyroidism. To know more about this form of treatment, read on... Radioactive iodine is widely used in the United States and North America to eliminate this form of hyperthyroidism.
What are the symptoms of Graves disease?
The outcome – the thyroid gland becomes enlarged, which leads to hyperthyroidism, a condition that causes the thyroid gland to produce hormones in excess. Muscle weakness, fatigue, irritability and sleeping problems are some of the most common Graves’ disease symptoms.
What is the butterfly shaped thyroid gland?
This butterfly shaped gland is chiefly responsible for the creation of two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
How does RAI work?
The RAI that is not used by the thyroid gland is eventually removed from the body through urine. The destruction of thyroid cells reduces the size of the thyroid gland, which leads to drop in blood thyroid hormone levels that were previously high. With thyroid cells getting destroyed by radioactive iodine, one expects relief from hyperthyroidism ...
What are the side effects of RAI?
The most frequently occurring side effect of RAI therapy is hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid hormones are produced in inadequate amounts. A large percentage of patients using this treatment are eventually diagnosed with less than normal thyroid levels.
Why does Graves disease take a backseat?
However as aforementioned, in Graves’ disease, normal thyroid levels take a backseat. This happens because of outlandish behavior of the immune system. The defense mechanism of our body that produces antibodies to kill harmful bacteria actually target the tissues of the thyroid gland.
Does Graves disease cause thyroid levels to rise?
However, in the initial weeks of RAI treatment for Graves’ disease, blood thyroid levels actually rise, instead of declining. The damage done to the thyroid gland triggers excess secretion of the hormones, T3 and T4, into the bloodstream. The thyroid cells store the hormones and so when they are destroyed, both T3 and T4 are released into ...
What is the treatment for thyroid cancer?
The most common types of thyroid cancer (papillary and follicular) can usually be treated with large doses of radioactive iodine. (The dosages of RAI are much higher than with hyperthyroidism treatment.) The therapy is usually given after removal of the thyroid gland to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue. A “tracer” dose of radioactive iodine can ...
How long does it take for iodine to flush out of the body?
Most patients need only one dose before their hyperthyroidism is resolved, which may take a few weeks to several months.
How does RAI work?
The thyroid is the most efficient organ at concentrating iodine. RAI treats hyperthyroidism by damaging or destroying thyroid cells through radiation. RAI is taken in an oral capsule form. You don’t need to be hospitalized unless the dose is very high, which is rarely needed.
What hormones are needed for nervousness?
The thyroid gland needs iodine to make these hormones. The thyroid is the most efficient organ at concentrating iodine.
What are the side effects of RAI?
Temporary side effects of RAI may include: 1 Neck tenderness and swelling. 2 Nausea. 3 Swollen salivary glands. 4 Loss of taste or taste change. 5 Dry mouth/insufficient salivary production. 6 Dry eyes. 7 Excessive tearing from the eyes.
Is radioactive thyroid medicine safe?
The term “radioactive” may sound frightening, but it is a safe, generally well-tolerated, and reliable treatment that targets thyroid cells so there is little exposure to the rest of your body’s cells . Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
Can RAI cause hypothyroidism?
Permanent hypothy roidism (or underactive thyroid, when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones) is an expected side effect of RAI treatment for hyperthyroidism. Fortunately, hypothyroidism is much easier to treat than hyperthyroidism using hormone replacement therapy.
What is Graves disease?
Graves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune condition characterised by elevated levels of thyroid stimulating (TSH) receptor antibodies with increased production of thyroid hormone. Among patients with hyperthyroidism, 60–80% have GD.
What is the primary treatment for thyrotoxicosis?
Carbimazole (CMZ), Methimazole (MTZ) and propylthiouracil (PTU) are used for the primary treatment of thyrotoxicosis due to GD or as a means of preparing the patient for definitive therapy with surgery or RAI (19).
How is radiation exposure determined in utero?
Radiation exposure in utero is determined by the gestational age, foetal thyroid activity and maternal thyroid uptake (47) . Administration of a maximum dose of 15 mCi (550MBq) given up to 10 weeks of gestation does not severely affect foetal thyroid function and the low fetal exposure does not justify termination (48).
What is the precursor of thyroxine?
Iodine is the precursor of thyroxine. The radioactive form of iodine is taken up by iodide transporter of the thyroid the same way as natural iodine and is similarly processed. The b particle destroys the follicular cell, gradually leading to volume reduction and control of the thyrotoxicosis.
When does iodine cause birth defects?
There is no increase in birth defects or childhood malignancy in children born to mothers who had received radioactive iodine before the 10th week of gestation (49). Limited evidence suggests that RAI given after 10–12 weeks results in neonatal hypothyroidism or cretinism.
Is RAI a treatment for GD?
RAI is the most widely used treatment for patients with GD in the United States (2) . Although therapy is well established for definitive treatment of GD, the approach to dosing remains controversial. This is due to differing goals of treatment (control of hyperthyroidism vs. avoidance of hypothyroidism).
Is RAI contraindicated in pregnancy?
The foetal thyroid at 10–12 weeks of gestation is capable of forming colloid, concentrating iodine, and synthesising thyroid hormones (43). RAI treatment is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy, because it is readily transferred across the placenta.
A Closer Look at the Study Process
Among the 118 patients treated with long-term AT medications, 39 opted to change therapy because of patient preference, or minor side effects. Of the remaining 89 patients, 25 had either persistent hyperthyroidism at a maximum dose for AT medications, significant adverse effects requiring definitive therapy, or relapse after initial remission.
Applying Results to Clinical Practice
When choosing the proper treatment for Graves’ hyperthyroidism, the best course is an individualized decision that involves balancing the probability of treatment success and the likelihood of treatment complications.³ Many factors may influence patient preferences.
What is radioactive iodine used for?
Radioactive iodine: this plays a valuable role in diagnosing and treating thyroid problems since it is taken up only by the thyroid gland. I-131 is the destructive form used to destroy thyroid tissue in the treatment of thyroid cancer and with an overactive thyroid.
What is Graves disease?
Graves’ disease is a common cause of an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Studies have shown that having Graves’ disease may have negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Graves’ disease is usually treated with antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery.
Is radioactive iodine therapy less desirable?
If these findings are confirmed in other studies in other countries, it would suggest that radioactive iodine therapy may be less desirable in the long term as compared to antithyroid drugs or surgery. — Sun Y. Lee, MD.
