yeah, still no long time follow-ups

[Guest guest]

Although RAI has been used since 1942, long-term followup is still

not available. Maybe medical field should have data for 30 years

followups by now?

Liang

Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1998 Mar;27(1):205-23. Related

Articles, Links

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine.

Kaplan MM, Meier DA, Dworkin HJ.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Royal

Oak, Michigan, USA.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI has been performed for more

than a half century with efficacy and safety. For its optimal use,

the physician must employ appropriate patient selection criteria and

clinical judgment concerning pretreatment patient preparation. The

dose of the 131I needed remains an area of uncertainty and debate;

thus far, it has not been possible to resolve the trade-off between

efficient definitive cure of hyperthyroidism and the high incidence

of post-therapy hypothyroidism. Early side effects are uncommon and

readily manageable. Other than the need for long-term monitoring

and, in most cases, lifelong L-T4 treatment, late adverse

consequences of this treatment remain only conjectural. The

available follow-up studies support the current majority opinion of

North American thyroid specialists that RAI treatment is an

excellent choice for most hyperthyroid patients.

[Guest guest]

> Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1998 Mar;27(1):205-23. Related

> Articles, Link

> Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine.

>

> Kaplan MM, Meier DA, Dworkin HJ.

I know some of these guys. Get them away from me!!! Seriously, the middle

fellow, my ex-endo #3, greeted me at a 1:30 appointment one day with this

bit of info: that he'd officiated at 4 RAIs that day.

> Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Royal

> Oak, Michigan, USA.

>

> Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI has been performed for more

> than a half century with efficacy and safety. For its optimal use,

> the physician must employ appropriate patient selection criteria and

> clinical judgment concerning pretreatment patient preparation. The

> dose of the 131I needed remains an area of uncertainty and debate;

> thus far, it has not been possible to resolve the trade-off between

> efficient definitive cure of hyperthyroidism and the high incidence

> of post-therapy hypothyroidism. Early side effects are uncommon and

> readily manageable. Other than the need for long-term monitoring

> and, in most cases, lifelong L-T4 treatment

Not mentioning any names but I have a friend whose hypothyroidism is

being monitored by a someone who may or may not be an associate of these

jokers on TSH and T4, NOT Free T4, who is actually functioning pretty

well with a TSH of 13, which makes me afraid that her hypoT (not RAI or

surgery-induced) is going to turn into Graves one of these days.

Take care, Fay

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