Contents of circulating immune complexes in patients with thyroid cancer after treatment with radioactive iodine and recombinant human thyrotropin

Abstract

The use of recombinant human thyrotropin before postoperative radioiodine ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer allows to prevent undesirable effects of hypothyroidism and reduce radiotoxicity. The aim of the work was to compare the immunogenic action of 31-I in patients with thyroid cancer at various approaches to treatment with radioactive iodine: with the use of recombinant human thyrotropin and with the abolition of thyroid hormones. Materials and methods. The levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) were measured after radioiodine therapy in 29 euthyroid patients submitted to recombinant human thyrotropin therapy (group A) and 35 hypothyroid patients with levothyroxine withdrawal (group B). CIC analysis was carried out the day before, in 6 days, 1 and 6 months after radioiodine administration in both groups. Results. Significant changes in CIC were not detected throughout the followup period when Thyrogen was used in radioiodine therapy while CIC content was significantly increased with a maximum level in one month after radioiodine administration in group B. Conclusion. The use of recombinant human thyrotropin for radioiodine therapy reduces the negative effect of 131-I on the immunological parameters of thyroid cancer patients.