Effects of antithyroid drugs on radioiodine treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of adjunctive antithyroid drugs on the risk of treatment failure, hypothyroidism, and adverse events after radioiodine treatment.


METHODS
Meta-analysis.


METHODS
Electronic databases (Cochrane central register of controlled trials, Medline, Embase) searched to August 2006 and contact with experts. Review methods Three reviewers independently assessed trial eligibility and quality. Pooled relative risks for treatment failure and hypothyroidism after radioiodine treatment with and without adjunctive antithyroid drugs were calculated with a random effects model.


RESULTS
We identified 14 relevant randomised controlled trials with a total of 1306 participants. Adjunctive antithyroid medication was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure (relative risk 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.52; P=0.006) and a reduced risk for hypothyroidism (0.68, 0.53 to 0.87; P=0.006) after radioiodine treatment. We found no difference in summary estimates for the different antithyroid drugs or for whether antithyroid drugs were given before or after radioiodine treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Antithyroid drugs potentially increase rates of failure and reduce rates of hypothyroidism if they are given in the week before or after radioiodine treatment, respectively.
Walter
Martin A
MA
Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. m.a.walter@gmx.net
Briel
Matthias
M
Christ-Crain
Mirjam
M
Bonnema
Steen J
SJ
Connell
John
J
Cooper
David S
DS
Bucher
Heiner C
HC
Müller-Brand
Jan
J
Müller
Beat
B
D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes