Early effects of radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy on liver function in patients with Graves’ disease: a 48-h analysis

We conducted a retrospective review of 122 patients with GD who received RAI therapy at our department between January 2019 and July 2020. Following RAI treatment, significant changes in liver biochemical parameters were observed: levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), direct bilirubin (DBIL), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) increased, while total bilirubin (TBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased. Our findings suggest that RAI therapy is associated with new, transient abnormalities in liver biochemical parameters in over a quarter of patients, involving alterations in ALB, DBIL, AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), or combinations of these markers. Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age and higher RAI dosage were independent predictors of liver function test abnormalities following treatment.