Hypothyroidism after radioiodine therapy for Graves' disease

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Radioiodine therapy for Graves' disease avoids undesirable side effects of medical and surgical therapy but has a high incidence of subsequent hypothyroidism, which is cause for continuing concern. Just how frequent is this complication? Is its incidence rising, and if so, what factors might be responsible? Does prior drug therapy affect the incidence? In their follow-up study of patients at the Lahey Clinic initially treated with iodine 131 between 1968 and 1979, Drs Gresham and Wool found some interesting answers to these and other questions.