The development of transient hypothyroidism after iodine-131 treatment in hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease: prevalence, mechanism and prognosis.

These results indicate that (1) more than half the patients who developed hypothyroidism within 6 months after 131I treatment for Graves' disease recovered spontaneously, (2) TSAb activity might play some role in the recovery of transient hypothyroidism, and (3) the development of transient hypothyroidism may influence long-term thyroid function.