title: Comparison of curative effect of 131I and antithyroid drugs in Graves' disease: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radioactive 131I is currently reported to be a potential effective intervention for Graves' disease treatment in China. Whether 131I treatment was associated with effective outcome or reduced risk of side effects, recurrence rate remained unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were selected from Chinese VIP, Wangfang, CNKI databases using the keywords "Iodine" and "Graves' disease". Finally, 13 clinical trials met the inclusion criterion and were included this meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our meta-analysis included 1355 patients diagnosed of Graves' disease with regular anti-thyroid drugs oral administration and 1320 patients with 131I therapy. The results showed that there was significant symptom improvement with radioactive iodine intervention (Odd Ratio [OR]=4.50, 95% CI: 3.55-5.71, P<0.01). Three studies mentioned side effects, 6 mentioned recurrence rate and another 6 mentioned hypothyroidism. The ORs and 95% CIs for these subgroups were 0.12 (0.06, 0.21), 0.08 (0.05, 0.13) and 2.27 (1.77, 2.92) respectively. It means a significant reduction of side effects and recurrence rate but increased hypothyroidism after 131I intervention in Graves' disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with 131I was associated with better clinical outcome; it reduced side effects and reccurence rate but increased hypothyroidism in Graves' disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Henan Province Hospital of TCM, Zhengzhou, China - m_x_h726@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xiuqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes