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Twenty-two patients(13 percent)had infiltrative Graves'ophthalmology at randomization.During follow-up,ophthalmopathy developed for the first time in 22 patients(13 percent)and worsened in 8 patients(5 percent).The frequency of the development or worsening of ophthalmopathy was similar among the patients in group 1(medical therapy,4 of 27 patients[15 percent];and surgery,3 of 27[11 percent]).In group 2,ophthalmopathy developed or worsened in 4 of the 38 patients(10 percent)treated medically,6 of the 37 patients(16 percent)given iodine-131(P=0.02 for the comparison between the iodine-131 subgroup and the others combined).The risk of the development or worsening of ophthalmopathy increased as pretreatment serum triiodothyronine concentrations increased.Conclusions. As compared with other forms of antithyroid therapy,iodine-131 is more likely to be followed by the development or exacerbation of Graves' ophthalmopathy. |
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