Hepatotoxicity of iodine-131 ablation for post-surgical differentiated thyroid cancer patients with hepatitis B virus infection

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2021 Nov;45(6):101631. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101631. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Abstract

Objective: Radioiodine (Iodine-131, 131I) ablation is a standard treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) after thyroidectomy. Hepatotoxicity is a rare side effect of 131I, and little information is available on the hepatotoxicity of 131I ablation for post-surgical DTC patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 94 post-surgical DTC patients between November 2012 and August 2015 in our hospital. All the patients had been screened for HBV infection and divided into HBV group and non-HBV group. Clinical data were compared between the two groups.

Results: 14 patients with HBV infection and 80 patients without HBV infection were analyzed. The baseline characteristics of the two groups had no statistical differences. Incidence of hepatotoxicity was higher in HBV group than in non-HBV group and HBV infection was confirmed as a risk factor of hepatotoxicity by univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusion: Post-surgical DTC patients with HBV infection were prone to hepatotoxicity by 131I ablation treatment. Physicians should pay more attention to the liver function of patients at risk.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Hepatotoxicity; Radioiodine; Thyroid cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / radiotherapy
  • Adenocarcinoma* / surgery
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury* / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes* / toxicity
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / surgery

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Iodine-131