131I-MIBG Therapy

PREPARATION:         

• There is no need for fasting.
• The use of beverages and foods containing caffeine (e.g., coffee, chocolate, mate tea, black tea, green tea, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Guarana, chocolate cake, coffee candy, etc.) should be withheld 24 hours before therapy.
• In order for the medication not to be absorbed by the patient’s thyroid gland, it is important to saturate the gland with non-radioactive iodine, so the patient will be advised to take potassium iodide syrup or Lugol a few days before and after the injection of the radioactive material, as shown below.

For adults we recommend:

• 1 teaspoon of potassium iodide syrup (three times daily) or 1 drop/kg weight of 1% Lugol’s solution (broken up into twice daily doses), no more than 40 drops total, 3 days before and 2 to 3 days after injection of the radioactive material.

For children, we recommend:

• Newborns = 16 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 ml of Potassium Iodide syrup, 1 time a day, one day before the exam);
• Between 1 month to 3 years = 32 mg of Potassium Iodide (0.5 ml of Potassium Iodide syrup, three times a day, two days before and two days after the tracer injection);
• From 3 to 13 years = 65 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 ml of Potassium Iodide, three times a day, two days before and two days after the tracer injection);
• Over 13 years = 130 to 200 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 teaspoon or 5 mi of Potassium Iodide syrup, two to three times a day, two days before and two days after the tracer injection) or 1 drop/kg of the child’s weight of Lugol’s 1% solution, divided into twice a day, a maximum of 40 drops.
• Patients who have already had surgical removal of the thyroid gland do not need blocking.
• Collect a pregnancy test (Beta-HCG), if applicable, the day before treatment and bring the result.

Some medications must be withheld to perform this therapy. Check the list with our call center.

HOW IS THE THERAPY PERFORMED?

After the registration form is filled out at the reception desk, the patient will be admitted for inpatient care.

Before and after the MIBG injection, blood pressure will be measured.

With the patient hospitalized in his room, a peripheral vein, preferably in the forearm, will be punctured and maintained with saline solution.

The dose of MIBG will be injected slowly through the vein (preferably with an infusion pump). At the end, the venous access will be removed and the patient must remain in isolation until reaching the acceptable radiation levels for their discharge.

Ee will monitor the radiation exposure rate daily with a device called Geiger Counter.

The length of the hospital stay varies, depending on the individual excretion rate of radioactive material.

Abundant hydration is recommended during hospitalization, in addition to maintaining the use of potassium iodide (do not forget to take this medication when you are admitted, as the hospital does not have it available) and other medications that you use daily.

The use of analgesics and anti-emetics may be necessary during hospitalization.

After hospital discharge, the patient will be instructed to return to the clinic, on an appointed date, to carry out the post-dose whole-body scan.

OE 058 – Version:  04/2024 

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