Thyroid arterial embolization to treat Graves' disease.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively investigate the effect of thyroid arterial embolization on hyperthyroid Graves' disease in selected patients.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease were enrolled to undergo thyroid arterial embolization and followed up for 12-22 months. Twenty-two patients had three thyroid arteries embolized and six patients two arteries. Serum thyroid hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and autoimmune function were tested before and after embolization in all patients.


RESULTS
Of 28 patients, 22 (78.6%) became euthyroid, five improved (17.8%), and one had temporary improvement followed by recurrence (3.6%). No serious complications occurred. Compared with the pre-embolization values, serum concentrations of thyroid hormone increased temporarily on day 3 post-embolization, dropped substantially after 1 and 2 months, and returned to nearly normal at 6 and 12 months post-embolization. TSH dropped on day 3, increased after 1 and 2 months, and returned to normal after 6 and 12 months. Thyroid antibodies TGAb and TMAb declined on day 3 to normal range, rose after 1 month, dropped to normal again after 2 months, and were slightly increased at 6 and 12 months follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid arterial embolization may be an effective approach for patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease.
Zhao
W
W
Medical Imaging Center and Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, China.
Gao
B-L
BL
Yang
H-Y
HY
Li
H
H
Song
D-P
DP
Xiang
S-T
ST
Shen
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000792:Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler