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Among the 150 patients treated with radioiodine,ophthalmopathy developed or worsened in 23(15 percent)two to six months after treatment.The change was transient in 15 patients,but it persisted in 8(5 percent),who subsequently required treatment for their eye disease.None of the 55 other patients in this group who had ophthalmopathy at base line had improvement in their eye disease.Among the 145 patients treated with radioiodine and prednisone,50(67 percent)of the 75 with ophthalmopathy at base line had improvement,and no patient had progression.The effects of radioiodine on thyroid function were similar in these two groups.Among the 148 patients treated with methimazole,3(2 percent)who had ophthalmopathy at base line improved,4(3 percent)had worsening of eye disease,and the remaining 141 had no change.Radioiodine therapy for Graves'hyperthyroidism is followed by the appearance or worsening of ophthalmopathy more often than is therapy with methimazole.Worsening of ophthalmopathy after radioiodine therapy is often transient and can be prevented by the administration of prednisone. |
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