Radioiodine therapy (RAI) for Graves' disease (GD) and the effect on ophthalmopathy: a systematic review

An association between radioiodine therapy (RAI) for Graves' disease (GD) and the development or worsening of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is widely quoted but there has been no systematic review of the evidence.

We undertook a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess whether RAI for GD is associated with increased risk of ophthalmopathy compared with antithyroid drugs (ATDs) or surgery. We also assessed the efficacy of glucocorticoid prophylaxis in the prevention of occurrence or progression of ophthalmopathy, when used with RAI.

We identified RCTs regardless of language or publication status by searching six databases and trial registries. Dual, blinded data abstraction and quality assessment were undertaken. Random effects meta-analyses were used to combine the study data. Ten RCTs involving 1136 patients permitted 13 comparisons. Two RCTs compared RAI with ATD. Two RCTs compared RAI with thyroidectomy. Four RCTs compared the use of adjunctive ATD with RAI vs. RAI. Five RCTs examined the use of glucocorticoid prophylaxis with RAI.

RAI was associated with an increased risk of ophthalmopathy compared with ATD [relative risk (RR) 4.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.04-8.77] but compared with thyroidectomy, there was no statistically significant increased risk (RR 1.59, 95% CI 0.89-2.81). The risk of severe GO was also increased with RAI compared with ATD (RR 4.35; 95% CI 1.28-14.73). Prednisolone prophylaxis for RAI was highly effective in preventing the progression of GO in patients with pre-existing GO (RR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00-0.24). The use of adjunctive ATD with RAI was not associated with any significant benefit on the course of GO.

RAI for GD is associated with a small but definite increased risk of development or worsening of Graves' ophthalmopathy compared with ATDs. Steroid prophylaxis is beneficial for patients with pre-existing GO.