Treatment of Incapacitated Euthyroid Cardiac Patients by Producing Hypothyroidism with Radioactive Iodine

THE purpose of this communication is to summarize our experience since November, 1947, in treating 37 patients with chronic heart disease by lessening the cardiac work through inducing hypothyroidism with radioactive iodine (I131).1 2 3 Our efforts have proceeded in four main directions: the clinical appraisal of the therapeutic value of the procedure; study of possible deleterious radiation effects; establishment of criteria for the proper selection of patients; and investigation and control of the secondary consequences of the hypothyroid state. Although final conclusions concerning these problems must await the results obtained over many years in various clinics, it may be helpful . . .