OUTCOMES OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE TREATMENT ON HYPERTHYROIDISM PATIENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA

Objective: To assess the outcome and safety of Radioactive iodine (RAI) in hyperthyroid patients in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: It is a retrospective study of all patients of hyperthyroidism treated by Radioactive Iodine (RAI) seen in endocrinology clinics in Saudi Arabia. More than 800 patients diagnosed to have hyperthyroid been treated by RAI. They proved to have hyperthyroidism by thyroid function test (TSH, FT4 and T3) and isotopes scanning of the thyroid gland. All received 20 mci of RAI and were then followed up after one month and every two months thereafter for at least one year. The efficacy of the therapy was assessed by the improvement of the clinical features and by the thyroid function tests and any side effect been noted. Results: A total of 837 patients were treated by RAI in Saudi Arabia hospitals, 2018. There mean age was 36.5 +/- 10.64 years. Five hundred fifty three were female and two hundred eighty four were male. Graves disease was the underlying cause in 517 patients [61.7%], toxic multinodular goiter in 213 patients [25.4%] and toxic adenoma in 107 patients [12.7%]. The symptoms improved after one month only in 33 patients but others required antithyroid treatment for two months. Only 21 patients remained hyperthyroid after six months of treatment (2.5%). Conclusion: Radioactive iodine is very effective in treatment of hyperthyroidism with minor side effects such as weight gain, fatigability and hypothyroidism.