Thyrotropin alpha (Thyrogen) is an important medical drug mainly used for the treatment and diagnosis of thyroid diseases. Before understanding its specific definition and indications, let's have a preliminary understanding of Thyrogen.
What is Thyrogen (Thyrotropin for Injection)?
Thyrogen Thyrotropin alpha is a recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (RhTSH) that is exactly the same as natural human thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). It was developed by Genzyme and first approved in the United States in 1998. Thyrogen is mainly used to increase TSH levels without thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW). After Thyrogen injection, TSH levels in the body will increase significantly, which is very important data in preparing for radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation or monitoring the recurrence of thyroid lesions.
Ingredients and Uses
The main ingredient of Thyrogen is recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone, which is produced by recombinant DNA technology. It binds to TSH receptors on thyroid epithelial cells, stimulating the absorption and organization of iodine, as well as the synthesis and release of thyroglobulin, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). This makes Thyrogen a useful adjunctive diagnostic agent for the treatment of differentiated thyroid lesions, especially when it is necessary to increase TSH levels for radioactive iodine therapy.
Administration
Thyrogen is usually administered intramuscularly in the buttocks at a dose of 0.9 mg per injection, with a second injection recommended 24 hours later. Thyrogen is only intended for intramuscular injection and should not be administered intravenously. Reconstitution and preparation procedures require strict adherence to medical specifications and strict adherence to aseptic principles.
We will discuss in detail the indications for Thyrogen, i.e., in which specific circumstances is it recommended or prescribed for use.
What are the indications for Thyrogen (thyroid stimulating hormone for injection)?
The indications for Thyrogen mainly include the adjunctive diagnosis of well-differentiated thyroid lesions and the adjunctive treatment of thyroid remnant ablation. In these cases, Thyrogen enhances the therapeutic effect of radioactive iodine by increasing TSH levels, thereby improving the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment.
Auxiliary diagnosis of well-differentiated thyroid lesions
Thyrogen is used to follow up patients with well-differentiated thyroid lesions who have undergone thyroidectomy. By injecting Thyrogen, the synthesis and release of thyroglobulin can be stimulated to increase the sensitivity of the test. However, triglyceride levels stimulated by Thyrotropin alpha are not related, and anti-triglyceride antibodies may interfere with the test, which leads to the risk of missed diagnosis or underestimated disease extent.
Adjuvant therapy for thyroid remnant ablation
Thyrogen is also suitable for patients with well-differentiated thyroid lesions who have undergone near-total thyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy and have no evidence of distant metastatic thyroid lesions. In this case, Thyrogen is used in combination with radioactive iodine to ablate or destroy residual thyroid tissue, thereby reducing the risk of recurrence of thyroid lesions. The effect of Thyrotropin alpha on the recurrence of thyroid lesions more than five years after residual ablation has not been evaluated.
When using Thyrogen for radioactive iodine therapy, patients and doctors need to pay special attention to the associated risks.
Risks associated with radioactive iodine therapy with Thyrogen (thyroid stimulating hormone for injection)
Although Thyrogen plays an important role in the treatment and diagnosis of thyroid disease, its combined treatment with radioactive iodine also has certain risks. These risks need to be fully understood by patients and doctors before treatment and closely monitored during treatment.
Risks of radioactive iodine therapy
Radioactive iodine therapy may cause nausea, headache, weakness, chills, fever, cold symptoms, vomiting, dizziness, paresthesia, etc. These adverse reactions may require medical intervention when they are severe. Radioactive iodine therapy may also cause radiation exposure to people around, so patients need to follow the doctor's instructions and take appropriate radiation protection measures.
Contraindications for use in special populations
The safety and effectiveness of Thyrogen for pregnant women, breastfeeding women and children have not yet been determined, so it is generally not recommended for use in these populations. For the elderly and patients with a history of heart disease, serious complications such as hyperthyroidism may occur. Thyroid function and heart condition need to be closely monitored when using Thyrogen.
Warm reminder: Before using Thyrogen, patients should fully communicate with their doctors to understand the purpose, process, risks and expected effects of treatment. Patients should follow the doctor's instructions and conduct necessary examinations and monitoring.
