Factors affecting timing of hypothyroidism following radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) for patients with Graves’ disease: A 12-month observational study

Abstract

Background This retrospective study analyzed factors influencing hypothyroidism development after radioactive iodine therapy for Graves’ disease. Patients and methods Three hundred and three patients with Graves’ disease treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) from 2013 to 2022 at two Egyptian hospitals were included. Data collected included demographics, lab values, thyroid imaging, RAI doses, and outcomes. Patients were followed for ≥1 year to assess hypothyroidism onset. Results At the end of 1 year, around 79.5% of the individuals developed hypothyroidism while 12.5% continued to experience hyperthyroidism. The onset of hypothyroidism occurred earlier in those with thyroid volume (≤75.5 cm3), lower thyroid weight (≤84.7 g), thyroid uptake (≤18.8%), and higher RAI dose/volume (≥0.1022 mCi/ml) (P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a correlation between anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies and faster development of hypothyroidism compared to those who were negative for antibodies (2.9 vs 8.9 months, P = 0.001). When considering factors in analysis it was found that anti-TPO antibodies were the only independent predictor, for developing hypothyroidism (hazard risk 30.47, P < 0.001). Additionally, thyroid volume and uptake independently predicted successful treatment outcomes (P < 0.05). Conclusion Positive anti-TPO antibodies strongly predict hypothyroidism risk after RAI therapy for Graves’ disease. Smaller thyroid size, lower uptake, and higher RAI dose/volume correlate with earlier hypothyroidism onset but are less significant predictors than anti-TPO status. Findings can guide RAI therapy personalization to optimize outcomes.