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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 89, No. 7 3285-3289
Copyright © 2004 by The Endocrine Society

Rapid Rise in Serum Thyrotropin Concentrations after Thyroidectomy or Withdrawal of Suppressive Thyroxine Therapy in Preparation for Radioactive Iodine Administration to Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Dina I. Serhal, Mona P. Nasrallah and Baha M. Arafah

Division of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Baha M. Arafah, M.D., Division of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. E-mail: bxa{at}po.cwru.edu.

Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer are often treated transiently with T3 in preparation for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. We questioned the value of using T3 transiently in patients requiring RAI therapy.

Two groups of patients requiring RAI therapy were investigated. One group included patients studied immediately after thyroidectomy, whereas the other included those withdrawn from chronic suppressive T4 therapy that followed thyroidectomy and postoperative RAI ablation. Serum TSH concentrations were serially measured two to three times weekly until they reached more than 30 mU/liter, after which RAI therapy was administered.

Serum TSH concentrations reached more than 30 mU/liter 8–26 d (mean ± SD, 14.2 ± 4.8) after thyroidectomy or 9–29 (18.1 ± 4.1) d after T4 withdrawal. That level of TSH elevation was achieved 18 d after thyroidectomy and 22 d after T4 withdrawal in more than 95% of patients. Minimal symptoms of hypothyroidism were noted in either group when RAI was administered.

Serum TSH concentrations increased rapidly without transient therapy with T3. To minimize symptoms of hypothyroidism, serum TSH levels should be measured twice weekly, starting 10 d after thyroidectomy or T4 withdrawal. The data cast doubt about the value and benefits from using T3 in preparing patients for RAI therapy.

A preliminary report of the data was presented at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society in San Francisco, California, June 2002.

Abbreviations: DTC, Differentiated thyroid cancer; RAI, radioactive iodine; rh, recombinant human.






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Copyright © 2004 by The Endocrine Society