Iodinated contrast media (ICM) is widely used in a variety of examinations and procedures. The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of methimazole in prevention of thyrotoxicosis after ICM exposure. Retrospective cohort study, included patients≥18 years admitted to a tertiary medical center, underwent ICM examination or procedure and received methimazole prior to iodine exposure. A total of 179 patients with 202 hospitalizations were included. Average age was 72.3±13.5 years, 64% female. Nearly all patients (99%) had history of thyroid disease and 91% were treated with methimazole prior to admission. Seventy-five patients had low TSH levels prior to ICM exposure. In this high-risk group, methimazole led to normalization of TSH after discharge in 19%, and 64% remained with low TSH levels after discharge but with a small median difference in FT4 levels of -0.5, IQR (-5.9)-(5.2) pmol/L. In the eight patients with dose increase during hospitalization, treatment with methimazole was beneficial with median FT4 decrease of -6.2, IQR (-9.2)-(-1) pmol/L and TSH increase of 0.2, IQR (0.02)-(0.7) mIU/L. In 110 patients with normal TSH levels before admission, with methimazole treatment most (71%) remained euthyroid after discharge, 13% had low and 9% had high TSH. In the 15 patients with high TSH levels prior to admission, only two normalized TSH, 47% remained with high TSH, and 27% had low TSH after discharge. In patients with pre-existing thyrotoxicosis treated with anti-thyroid drugs (ATDs), methimazole therapy before ICM exposure prevented exacerbations. In patients with low TSH levels before admission, increasing dose of methimazole before exposure led to improvement in thyroid functions after discharge.
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