Predictive value of early thyroid function changes for the curative effect of 131I therapy in patients with Graves′ disease / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of early thyroid function changes on the efficacy of patients with Graves′ disease (GD) after 131I therapy. Methods:Data of patients with GD (59 males, 214 females; age (37.4±11.4) years) who underwent single therapy of 131I in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from November 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Symptoms, signs and laboratory tests (serum free triiodothyronine (FT 3) and serum free thyroxine (FT 4)) of patients were observed to assess the efficacy of 131I treatment. Efficacy was divided into complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), non-remission (NR) or relapse. The changes of thyroid function (ΔFT 3=FT 3 before treatment-FT 3 after treatment)/FT 3 before treatment×100%; ΔFT 4=FT 4 before treatment-FT 4 after treatment)/FT 4 before treatment×100%) 1 month after 131I therapy in each efficacy group and differences among them were compared by using independent-sample t test, χ2 test, one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t test. ROC curves were drawn to analyze the predictive values of early thyroid function changes on the efficacy of 131I treatment for GD. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors for the efficacy of 131I therapy. Results:CR rate and total effective rate of 273 GD patients after single therapy of 131I were 67.03%(183/273) and 92.67%(253/273), respectively. After 1 month, CR rate of euthyroidism group ( n=95) was significantly higher than that of hyperthyroidism group ( n=178; 81.05%(77/95) vs 59.55%(106/178); χ2=4.60, P=0.032). ΔFT 3 and ΔFT 4 at the first month were statistically significant and decreased sequentially in the CR group ( n=183), PR group ( n=70), NR or relapse groups ( n=20; F values: 15.40, 12.54, both P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that patients with ΔFT 3≥73.64% and (or) ΔFT 4≥59.03% had a higher probability of achieving CR, with sensitivities of 84.3% and 86.7%, and specificities of 62.6% and 62.6%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that 24 h radioactive iodine uptake (odds ratio ( OR)=1.095, 95% CI: 1.031-1.139), dose of 131I given per gram of thyroid tissue ( OR=1.562, 95% CI: 1.321-1.694), ΔFT 3 ( OR=1.354, 95% CI: 1.295-1.482), ΔFT 4 ( OR=1.498, 95% CI: 1.384-1.608) were factors affecting the outcome of patients with GD treated with 131I treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Effects of 131I treatment can be predicted based on the change of the thyroid function at the first month after 131I treatment in patients with GD.