title: Thyroid arterial embolization to treat Graves' disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medical Imaging Center and Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical College, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: B-L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: D-P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: S-T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: 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