Abstract:
Objective To explore the correlation between 131I conversion rate, post-treatment residual thyroid 131I level, clinical data and the efficacy of 131I therapy for Graves' Disease (GD) hyperthyroidism, and to screen independent influencing factors for guiding individualized treatment.
Methods A retrospective study was conducted on GD hyperthyroidism patients who received 131I therapy from September 2017 to September 2022. The patients were divided into a core cohort (938 cases, with complete clinical data and follow-up) and an extended cohort (179 cases, additionally with residual 131I level data). According to the 2022 version of Hyperthyroidism Guidelines, patients were classified into the clinical cure group (complete remission + hypothyroidism) and the non-cure group. Rank sum test, χ2 test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.
Results In the core cohort, the 2h/24h and 4h/24h 131I conversion rates in the cure group were significantly lower than those in the non-cure group (both P<0.001), and were negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy (ρ=−0.387, −0.406, both P<0.001), with the 4 h/24 h 131I conversion rate showing a stronger correlation. Seventeen clinical indicators (such as age and thyroid weight) were correlated with therapeutic efficacy. Multivariate regression analysis showed that 6 factors were independent influencing factors, including 4 h/24 h 131I conversion rate (OR=0.082, P<0.001, with the highest influence weight), age (OR=0.981, P=0.002), and complicated Hashimoto's thyroiditis (OR=1.453, P=0.025). In the extended cohort, the residual 131I levels in the cure group at 2 and 3 months after treatment were significantly lower than those in the non-cure group, and were negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy (ρ=−0.227, −0.279, both P<0.05).
Conclusion The 4 h/24 h 131I conversion rate is an independent influencing factor for the prognosis of GD patients after 131I therapy, and is negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy. The differences in residual 131I levels at 2 and 3 months after treatment are statistically significant, and both are negatively correlated with therapeutic efficacy. Combining negative correlation factors such as age, thyroid weight and comorbidities in clinical data can provide practical references for the precise management of 131I therapy for GD.