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Thyroxine replacement in post‐radioiodine hypothyroidism
Author(s) -
Bearcroft C. P.,
Toms G. C.,
Williams S. J.,
Noonan K.,
Monson J. P.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1991.tb00280.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology
Summary Thyroxine replacement dose in 70 patients with postradioiodine (for Graves’ thyrotoxicosis) hypothyroidism was compared with that in 34 patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism matched for age and sex and diagnosed during the same period. Median replacement dose In the post‐radlolodine group (100 μg daily) was significantly lower (P = 0·006) than in the autoimmune hypothyroid group (137·5 μg daily). Furthermore there was marked variation in the time elapsing from onset of post–radio‐Iodine hypothyroidism to achievement of a given maintenance dose. These findings may be explained by persistence of non–TSH mediated thyroid function, after radioiodine therapy for Graves’ thyrotoxicosis. The observations indicate the potential risk of overtreatment'with thyroxine In post‐radioiodine hypothyroidism unless the dose is carefully titrated against serum TSH levels. Final thyroxine requirements may not be evident in the initial phase of treatment and patients with apparently low maintenance thyroxine requirements require long‐term follow up