title: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis in Chinese patients: milder thyrotoxicosis yet lower dose of (131)I should be avoided.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a complication of thyrotoxicosis mainly observed in male Asian patients. It was proposed that patients with TPP tend to have lower thyroid hormone levels. We aimed to prove this observation and to assess whether a lower I dose is feasible for prompt control of TPP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 123 male TPP patients were enrolled in this study in a 7-year period. Baseline characteristics were compared with 70 thyrotoxic patients without periodic paralysis (nTPP). Different I doses were given to 90 TPP patients with a median follow-up of 11 months, and the outcome was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum thyroid hormone levels, including total T3 and T4, and free T3 and T4, in TPP patients were slightly less elevated compared with those in nTPP patients. Patients who received lower radioactivity of I had an unsatisfactory overall remission rate of 28.6%. Longer time to remission (P = 0.004; hazard ratio, 1.846; 95% confidence interval, 1.216-2.798) was also observed in patients with lower dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum thyroid hormone levels of TPP patients are lower than those of nTPP patients. Median/high dose of I is necessary to achieve rapid control of thyrotoxicosis.
authors: Student of Peking Union Medical Collegel, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Long
authors: Yansong
authors: Y
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010245:Paralyses, Familial Periodic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013963:Thyroid Hormones