Abstract:
Objective To explore the application and safety of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal in the preparation before radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment.
Methods The clinical data of 80 patients (46 males and 34 females, aged (42.0±8.9) years) with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who needed RAI treatment at the 923rd Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force from October 2024 to November 2025 were collected for the retrospective randomized controlled study. The random number table method was used to classify the patients into a control group and a study group. Each group comprised 40 cases. The control group stopped taking levothyroxine sodium (L-T4), whereas the study group was injected with rhTSH on the basis of continuous application of L-T4. The following datasets of the two groups of patients were compared: the effective rates of treatment and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) compliance rates, as well as the quality of life scores before enrollment, at 3 weeks before RAI treatment, and at 1 month after RAI treatment, and incidence rates of adverse reactions and radiation dose rates at 72 h after RAI treatment. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the measurement data of the two groups, whereas chi-square test was used to compare the counting data of the two groups.
Results The study group exhibited a higher effective rate of treatment than that of the control group, but the difference was not significant (80.0% (32/40) vs. 72.5% (29/40), χ2=0.621, P>0.05). The TSH compliance rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group (90.0% (36/40) vs.70.0% (28/40), χ2=5.000, P<0.05). The quality of life scores of both groups were lower at 3 weeks before RAI treatment and 1 month after RAI treatment than before enrollment (t=6.025–22.654, all P<0.05). The quality of life scores of the study group were higher than those of the control group at 3 weeks before RAI treatment and 1 month after RAI treatment (t=2.953–6.247, all P<0.01). The incidence rate of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group (7.50% (3/40) vs. 27.50% (11/40), χ2=5.541, P=0.019). The radiation dose rate at 72 h after RAI treatment was notably lower in the study group than in the control group ((1.32±0.21) µSv/h vs. (1.73±0.34) µSv/h, t=6.489, P<0.05).
Conclusion The application of rhTSH in the preparation before RAI treatment can minimize the influence of hypothyroidism on the quality of life of patients and is highly safe, which is worth promoting clinically.