title: Radioiodine I-131 for the therapy of graves' disease.
abstract: Graves' disease is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. Treatment options for Graves' disease include antithyroid medication, surgery or radioactive iodine (I-31) or RAI. This review will focus on the approach to RAI therapy; discussing dose selection, patient preparation, and consideration before and after administering RAI, examining aspects of pre-treatment with antithyroid medication as well as discussing possible adverse events including hypothyroidism and possible worsening of thyroid-associated opthalmopathy. Follow-up is lifelong with the aim of ensuring the patient remains euthyroid or on replacement therapy if there is evidence of hypothyroidism. While there are controversies in treatment of thyrotoxicosis with RAI, with appropriate patient selection and regular follow-up, radioiodine is a safe and effective modality in achieving high cure rates.
authors.affiliation: Island Hospital, 308 Macalister Road, 10450 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mumtaz
authors.forename: Lim Shueh
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Khaw Chong
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Amir Sharifuddin
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mohd Khir