Transient hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for thyrotoxicosis

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Abstract
A prospective study of thyroid function including serial tracer radioisotope uptake measurements in 55 patients treated with 131I therapy is described. Five patients had an episode of transient hypothyroidism within 8 mo. of treatment: in 3 of these patients this was due to impaired organification of iodide, with normal iodide trapping by the thyroid (as measured by a 20-min 123I uptake) being preserved. In contrast, in all patients who developed permanent hypothyroidism, iodide trapping was markedly diminished and did not recover. Apparently, hypothyroidism due to organification failure following 131I therapy is potentially short-lived; where hypothyroidism is associated with gross impairment of iodide trapping, recovery is unlikely. Early I uptake measurements may be of value in selecting those patients whose hypothyroidism is transient and who do not require permanent thyroid hormone replacement.

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