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DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234086
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
The Use of Thyrogen® in the Treatment of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: An Intraindividual Comparison of Clinical Effects and Implications of Daily Life
Publikationsverlauf
received 24.02.2009
first decision 12.05.2009
accepted 26.06.2009
Publikationsdatum:
23. Oktober 2009 (online)

Abstract
Aim: Withdrawal of levothyroxine with resultant hypothyroidism is still used in preparation for I-131 diagnostic whole-body scan (DWBS) and thyroglobulin (TG)-measurement in patients afflicted with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) enhances TSH stimulation obviating the clinical and economical consequences of hypothyroidism. Primary aim of this study was an intraindividual comparison of diagnostic follow-up measurements under these two sets of conditions by taking clinical and socio-economic parameters into account. Second aim was to determine a clear patient preference for the one method or the other.
Methods: This non-interventional observational study included patients (n=192 signed informed consent, n=128 protocol compliant patients without need for therapeutic intervention) with DTC first treated by thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. Control visits including I-131 DWBS were planned at 3–6 months post-thyroidectomy after a phase (KU 1) of thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and again after 6–12 months later in a euthyroid state under exogenous stimulation with rhTSH (KU 2). Study design was open, prospective and multicentric. Data collected consisted of patient information (SF-12® Health Survey), thyroid-specific results of clinical examinations and several aspects of daily life, e. g., employment, days of absence from work and other economic aspects.
Results: In contrast to KU 1, in KU 2 there is a highly significant improvement (p<0.0001) in all studied clinical symptoms and aspects of managing daily life. A significant increase of the SF-12® health survey score could also be identified. Mental score showed a higher increase than physical score. Included patients were less absent from work before KU 2, (absent 4.5%, median 4 days in euthyroid state [range 2–5 d]), vs. before KU 1 (absent 47.8%, median 10 days in hypothyroid state [range 1–30 d]). After KU 2 7.7% of the euthyroid patients was absent from work (median 5 days) while 37.5% was after KU 1 (median 6 days).
Conclusion: Included patients benefited subjectively and objectively from the use of rhTSH for diagnostic procedures in the treatment of DTC. A clear preference (127 of 128) of analyzed patients could be identified for exogenous stimulation with rhTSH.
Key words
rhTSH - thyroid cancer - hypothyroidism - diagnostic whole body
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Correspondence
Dr. C. Dueren
Department of Nuclear Medicine
University of Wuerzburg
Josef-Schneider-Straße 2
97080 Wuerzburg
Germany
Telefon: +49/9312/013 58 68
Fax: +49/9312/013 59 70
eMail: dueren_c@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de