Evaluation Results and Complications Treatment of Grave`s Disease with Radioiodine (I ¹³¹)

Patients with Graves` disease are usually treated with radioiodine after unsuccessful antithyroid drug medication, occurrence of side effects from antithyroid drugs or because of high risk of surgery. The aim of this study, is evaluation of the results and complications of treatment of Graves` disease with radioiodine. In a cross sectional descriptive-analytical study, 300 patients with Graves` disease who were treated with radioiodine in Endocrinology and Metabolism clinic of Tabriz Medical Sciences University between 2001-2004 were selected and followed up for one year regarding complications and response to treatment. Data analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software and T-test and Chi-Square test and the level of meaningfulness was considered as p< 0.05. 116(38.7%) of patients were male and 184(61.3%) of patients were female. Mean of age in male patients was 41.04±11.70 years and mean of age in female patients was 41.27±12.51 years (p = 0.875). Mean of radioiodine administration dosage in male patients was 13.53±4.60 mCi and in female patients was 11.53±5.03 mCi (p = 0.001).Thyroid size was significantly decreased after treatment (p = 0.000). 11(3.7%) of patients were involved to ophthalmopathy. Ophthalmopathy in two patients were intensification and in 33 patients were recovered. At one year followed up, 246(82%) of patients were euthyroidism. Treatment of Graves` disease with radioiodine is one of the most useful, safety and available treatment. Exacerbation of ophthalmopathy after radioiodine treatment was one of the most common complications. Prevalence of hypothyroidism was 18%. Radioiodine causes significant decrease in thyroid gland size.