Reactions 760 - 17 Jul 1999 Use radioiodine cautiously in patients with ophthalmopathy Radioiodine should be used with caution in patients with ophthalmopathy, warn Drs John Walsh and Colin Dayan from Bristol Royal Infirmary, and Dr Michael Potts from Bristol Eye Hospital in the UK. A previously reported study by Dr Bartalena and colleagues from Italy found development or progression of ophthalmopathy in 15% of patients treated with radioiodine for Graves’ hyperthyroidism. * Although this adverse effect was transient in most cases, Dr Walsh and colleagues say that 8 of the patients required orbital radiotherapy and high-dose corticosteroids. Furthermore, they add that the study excluded patients with pre-existing moderate or severe eye disease. In view of the findings of Dr Bartalena and colleagues, Dr Walsh and colleagues recommend that radioiodine should be avoided in patients with active or severe ophthalmopathy. For patients with mild eye disease, radioiodine may be used with adjuvant corticosteroids, they say. However, they add that the risks do not justify the routine use of corticosteroids in patients without ophthalmopathy. Dr Walsh and colleagues say that for the majority of patients, the benefits of radioiodine therapy outweigh the risk of ophthalmopathy. Nevertheless, they suggest that patients should be warned about the potential risk of ophthalmopathy with this treatment. * See Reactions 684: 5, 17 Jan 1998; 800631810 Walsh JP, et al. Radioiodine and thyroid eye disease: use with caution. BMJ 319: 68-69, 10 Jul 1999 800755271 1 Reactions 17 Jul 1999 No. 760 0114-9954/10/0760-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Use radioiodine cautiously in patients with ophthalmopathy

Download PDF Report

Upload
vankiet
View
213
Download
1

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Reactions 760 - 17 Jul 1999

Use radioiodine cautiously inpatients with ophthalmopathy

Radioiodine should be used with caution in patientswith ophthalmopathy, warn Drs John Walsh and ColinDayan from Bristol Royal Infirmary, and Dr MichaelPotts from Bristol Eye Hospital in the UK.

A previously reported study by Dr Bartalena andcolleagues from Italy found development or progressionof ophthalmopathy in 15% of patients treated withradioiodine for Graves’ hyperthyroidism.* Although thisadverse effect was transient in most cases, Dr Walsh andcolleagues say that 8 of the patients required orbitalradiotherapy and high-dose corticosteroids.Furthermore, they add that the study excluded patientswith pre-existing moderate or severe eye disease.

In view of the findings of Dr Bartalena and colleagues,Dr Walsh and colleagues recommend that radioiodineshould be avoided in patients with active or severeophthalmopathy. For patients with mild eye disease,radioiodine may be used with adjuvant corticosteroids,they say. However, they add that the risks do not justifythe routine use of corticosteroids in patients withoutophthalmopathy.

Dr Walsh and colleagues say that for the majority ofpatients, the benefits of radioiodine therapy outweighthe risk of ophthalmopathy. Nevertheless, they suggestthat patients should be warned about the potential riskof ophthalmopathy with this treatment.* See Reactions 684: 5, 17 Jan 1998; 800631810

Walsh JP, et al. Radioiodine and thyroid eye disease: use with caution. BMJ 319:68-69, 10 Jul 1999 800755271