Managing Hypothyroidism After Radioactive Iodine Treatment: The Need for Lifelong Thyroid Replacement Therapy

Radioactive iodine treatment is the therapy of choice in patients with Graves disease. The patient should be expected toa. achieve full recovery after treatment.b. need short-term thyroid replacement therapy.c. need lifelong thyroid replacement therapy.d. receive lifelong iodine treatment.

The correct answer is c

The correct answer is c. need lifelong thyroid replacement therapy.

Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder characterized by an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Radioactive iodine treatment is a common therapeutic approach for Graves disease treatment. This treatment involves the administration of radioactive iodine-131, which is specifically taken up by the thyroid gland and destroys the iodine-avid thyroid tissue.

After radioactive iodine treatment, the patient’s thyroid gland becomes less active, resulting in hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). This occurs due to the destruction of excessive thyroid tissue by the radioactive iodine. As a result, the patient will need lifelong thyroid replacement therapy (thyroid hormone medication) to supply the body with the necessary thyroid hormones.

Thyroid replacement therapy ensures that the patient receives an adequate amount of thyroid hormones to maintain normal metabolic function. The thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) produced by the thyroid gland are important for a wide range of bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, and energy levels.

While some patients may initially require short-term thyroid replacement therapy to stabilize their hormone levels, the majority will need lifelong treatment to support healthy thyroid function. Regular monitoring of the patient’s thyroid hormone levels is crucial to ensure they are maintained in the optimal range through appropriate dosage adjustments of the replacement medication.

It’s important to understand that radioactive iodine treatment does not fully restore the thyroid gland’s normal function in most cases. Therefore, lifelong thyroid replacement therapy is necessary to prevent the symptoms and complications associated with hypothyroidism.

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