rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1052-1056 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.137265
  • Original Article
  • Clinical Science

Euthyroid and primarily hypothyroid patients develop milder and significantly more asymmetrical Graves ophthalmopathy

  1. A K Eckstein1,
  2. C Lösch2,
  3. D Glowacka1,
  4. M Schott3,
  5. K Mann4,
  6. J Esser1,
  7. N G Morgenthaler5
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
  2. 2
    Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology University of Essen, Essen, Germany
  3. 3
    Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
  4. 4
    Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany
  5. 5
    Institut für Experimentelle Endokrinologie und Endokrinologisches Forschungszentrum EnForCé, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Dr A K Eckstein, Department of Ophthalmology, Essen University Hospital, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany; anja.eckstein{at}uk-essen.de
  • Accepted 22 January 2009
  • Published Online First 15 February 2009

Abstract

Background and aims: Retrospective, observational study to compare clinical symptoms and TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) in Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) in euthyroid and primarily hypothyroid patients to those in hyperthyroid patients.

Methods: Clinical symptoms (NOSPECS (severity) and CAS (activity) score), prevalence and levels of thyroid specific antibodies and the course of the disease were evaluated in 143 primarily hyperthyroid, 28 primarily euthyroid and 11 primarily hypothyroid patients with GO.

Results: Patients with euthyroid/hypothyroid GO developed significantly less severe GO symptoms (NOSPECS score 4.4 vs 5.7; p = 0.03), less active GO (CAS score 3.9 vs 5.2; p = 0.002) and more asymmetrical disease (proptosis side difference: 1.9 mm vs 1.0 mm (p = 0.01); side difference of ≥3 mm: 23% vs 4.8%) than hyperthyroid patients. TRAb levels 6 months after GO onset were significantly lower (2.2 IU/l, p = 0.02) in euthyroid/hypothyroid than in hyperthyroid patients (8.6 IU/l), as was the prevalence of both TRAb and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (75% vs 94.6%, p = 0.0008).

Conclusions: The knowledge about the phenotype of GO in primarily euthyroid and hypothyroid patients is helpful for differential diagnosis and patient consultation. TRAb titres are very low in these patients, and the availability of a sensitive assay technique is therefore an important diagnostic tool in euthyroid and hypothyroid patients.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University Essen, Germany.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

Relevant Article

  • At a glance:At a glance Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:idoi:10.1136/bjo.2009.167163

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All versions of this article:
    1. bjo.2007.137265v1
    2. 93/8/1052 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.