title: The influence of thiamazole, lithium carbonate, or prednisone administration on the efficacy of radioiodine treatment ((131)I) in hyperthyroid patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of selected drugs (see below) on the efficacy of ((131)I) radioiodine therapy were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 200 hyperthyroid patients, treated with radioactive iodine. They were divided into five groups (40 persons in each). In Group I - patients were administered (131)I and thiamazole; in Group II they were given - (131)I and lithium carbonate; in Group III they were given - (131)I only (the assumed absorbed dose - 150-200 Gy, the same as in Groups I and II, for which Group III was a control group); in Group IV they were given - (131)I and prednisone; and in Group V they were given - (131)I only (250-350 Gy, the same as in Group IV, for which Group V was a control group). Therapeutic results were analyzed after six months based on clinical and hormonal status. The evaluation also included effects of the initial hormonal status on the outcome of (131)I therapy in Groups II and IV (v. respective controls, i.e. Groups III and V); such analysis was not performed in Group I because all the patients in that group were initially hyperthyroid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 145 patients (72.5%) the therapy with (131)I was effective. In 55 patients (27.5%) the therapy was ineffective. The application of thiamazole during the peritherapeutic period in patients treated with 131I reduced the effectiveness of radioiodine, while lithium carbonate had no effect on the therapy outcome. Prednisone increased the effectiveness of the therapy with (131)I. Normalisation of the initial concentration of TSH was advantageous for the (131)I therapeutic outcome only when the assumed absorbed doses of 150-200 Gy were applied, while being of no avail for doses above 250 Gy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results indicate the necessity of careful analysis of administered drugs in hyperthyroid patients while qualifying them to (131)I therapy. The initial concentration of TSH has no effect on the efficacy of radioiodine therapy in cases where absorbed doses are regarded to be ablative. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (1): 56-61).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and Oncological Endocrinology, Province Hospital, Zgierz, Poland.
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oszukowska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knapska-Kucharska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makarewicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008713:Methimazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008713:Methimazole; D011241:Prednisone