title: [Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioiodine: effects of administered dose on complications and thyroid function].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radio-iodine is a definite therapy for Graves disease hyperthyroidism. However, the optimal dosage is still debatable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of different radioiodine doses on thyroid function and complications in patients with hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 139 patients with hyperthyroidism, treated with ratio-iodine between 1988 and 1998. Radio iodine dose used was classified as low (< 10 mCi), intermediate (10-14.9 mCi) or high (> or = 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% respectively, p < 0.001). Likewise, the frequency of subsequent hypothyroidism was 60% in patients treated with low doses and 84.5% of those with high doses, in whom it also appeared earlier. Associated complications were clinically irrelevant. In seven patients, Graves ophthalmopathy 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile. ppineda@ns.hospital.uchile.cl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Michelsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lillo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Massardo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sierralta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oviedo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liberman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes