Paper II
2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Lugol’s Iodine is given for 10 days prior to thyroidectomy surgery for Grave’s disease.

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Answer

High-dose Lugol’s iodine paradoxically inhibits thyroid hormone release and synthesis — the Wolff-Chaikoff effect — a rapid-onset (hours to days) but transient autoregulatory suppression, reducing both thyroid hormone output and, importantly, gland vascularity and friability. Given for about 10 days before thyroidectomy, this reduces intraoperative bleeding risk and makes the gland easier and safer to operate on. It is not used as sole or long-term therapy, since the thyroid typically “escapes” the Wolff-Chaikoff effect within 1-2 weeks and resumes normal hormone handling.

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