An evidence-based approach to the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy

Ultrasonography compared to magnetic resonance imaging in thyroid-associated Graves' ophthalmopathy

OBJECTIVE

To compare ultrasonography (US) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the clinical activity score (CAS) in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Nineteen patients underwent extraocular muscle thickness measurements by US and MRI, reflectivity by US and signal-intensity ratio by MRI. There were also twelve US control subjects.

RESULTS

US median thicknesses were greater than in controls. Correlation was found between US and MRI in the median thickness of the left eye rectus medial muscle as well as between signal-intensity ratio (SIR) and thickness by US. An inverse correlation was found between reflectivity and SIR in the inferior and lateral rectus. On associating the tests for detecting activity the best results were obtained with CAS plus MRI (sensitivity 75%), and US and MRI (positive predictive value 77% and specificity 80%).

CONCLUSION

CAS and US results showed poor correlation with MRI results suggesting that they cannot replace each other but when combined these methods can improve the evaluation of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

The role of genetics in Graves' disease and thyroid orbitopathy

Graves' disease is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by multiple systemic manifestations of overproduction of thyroid hormone, and in some cases, orbitopathy. The etiology of this disorder is multifactorial, involving heritable abnormalities of immune regulation as well as environmental triggers. The goal of this paper is to provide a review of recent research investigating candidate genes involved in the pathophysiology of both Graves' disease per se and of thyroid orbitopathy.

Transpalpebral Decompression of Endocrine Ophthalmopathy by Intraorbital Fat Removal (Olivari Technique): Experience and Progression after More than 3000 Operations over 20 Years

BACKGROUND

Graves' ophthalmopathy is a chronic, multisystem disorder characterized by increased intraorbital fat tissue and hypertrophic extraocular muscles caused by an autoimmune process. Graves' ophthalmopathy represents the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease. Clinical findings are impaired ocular motility, diplopia, lid retraction, and impaired visual acuity up to optic neuropathy, with menacing blindness.

METHODS

Transpalpebral decompression by intraorbital fat removal was first described by Olivari in 1988. From 1984 to 2004, a consecutive series of 1635 patients (3210 eyes) with Graves' ophthalmopathy underwent this operation at the authors' institution. The medical records of 1374 patients (84 percent) could be evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, the majority of patients showed significant improvements of major symptoms such as ocular protrusion, diplopia, decreased visual acuity, swelling of the eyelids, retrobulbar pressure, and headache. In addition, complications-most of them temporary and reversible-were rare. Because the osseous orbita is not touched, no complications, such as penetration of the dura, infection of the sinus maxillaris, meningitis, irritation of the infraorbital nerve, or obstruction of the lacrimal system, were observed. However, the high number of additional eyelid corrections (average, 2.5 individual corrections) following the decompression indicated the complexity of surgical treatment in endocrine orbitopathy.

CONCLUSION

Transpalpebral decompression has proved to be reliable, effective, and safe, with good, lasting results leading to an improvement not only in visual function but also in the patient's personal well-being and social life, with a high-benefit-to-low-risk ratio.

Smoking delays the response to treatment in episcleritis and scleritis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of smoking on comorbidity, treatment, visual and general outcome in patients with scleritis.

METHODS

The smoking habits of 103 patients with a diagnosis of episcleritis or scleritis were evaluated. These patients were treated by one ruling protocol at the Leiden University Medical Center between 1997 and 2000. Medical records of each patient were evaluated in detail. Data on possible factors concerning smoking were collected by postal questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of all 103 patients diagnosed with either episcleritis or scleritis, 41 (39.8%) were smoking during treatment of the scleral inflammation. In total, 19 patients (18.4%) had a smoking history while 43 (41.7%) patients have never smoked. The response to any of the given medications could be delayed by at least 4 weeks in many smoking patients (odds ratio (OR) 5.4 [95% confidence interval 1.9-15.5]), particularly those with posterior scleritis. Smoking patients above the age of 48 years were even more likely to respond belatedly to any given therapy (OR 6.6 [2.1-20.7]). However, having a smoking history did not delay the response. Furthermore, smoking did not worsen the visual prognosis and was not associated with additional recurrences or ocular complications after successful treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Although scleritis patients who smoked during treatment eventually responded, there was frequently over a month's delay before the medication became effective when compared to nonsmokers. This was irrespective of the type of disease or given therapy. As a consequence, smokers required more intensive therapy than those who did not smoke.

Imaging of disease activity in Graves' orbitopathy with different methods: comparison of (99m)Tc-DTPA and (99m)Tc-depreotide single photon emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and clinical activity scores

BACKGROUND

The immunosuppressive treatment of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) influences the course of the disease in the early, active, retrobulbar inflammatory phase (active GO), which cannot be detected by direct clinical examination.

AIM

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a newly developed method for the detection of intraorbital inflammatory activity in patients suffering from Graves' orbitopathy, utilizing a four-headed single photon emission tomograph (SPET) camera and (99m)Tc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Tc-DTPA).

METHODS

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxation time score, as a measure of ongoing orbital inflammation (reference method), was compared with the uptake activities (UA) of (99m)Tc-DTPA orbital SPET and the more specific (99m)Tc-Neospect ((99m)Tc-depreotide) SPET, as well as the clinical activity scores (CAS), in 21 patients (42 orbits).

RESULTS

By visual inspection, the 'eye SPET' frames of patients suffering from active GO could be easily distinguished from those with inactive GO. Although the distributions of the two radiopharmaceuticals were mildly different, the information obtained was essentially the same. The MRI activity scores correlated well with both (99m)Tc-DTPA and Tc-depreotide UA. The mean (99m)Tc-DTPA UA value of 25 inactive GO orbits was (6.55 +/- 1.4) x 10(-6) ID x cm3 (where ID is the injected dose); the values of the active GO orbits (12 orbits with an MRI score of 1 and five orbits with an MRI score of 2) were significantly higher: (8.87 +/- 1.63) x 10(-6) and (10.36 +/- 1.60) x 10(-6) ID x cm3, respectively. Similar differences were observed for the (99m)Tc-depreotide UA values: the averages in the inactive and active groups with MRI scores of 1 and 2 were (5.23 +/- 1.23) x 10(-6), (7.69+/-2.24) x 10 and (10.92 +/- 3.85) x 10(-6) ID x cm3, respectively. The (99m)Tc-DTPA accumulation pattern in the orbital region of active GO patients was similar to that of the more specific (99m)Tc-depreotide. There was a good correlation (r = 0.71, P<0.001) between the UA values of the two radiopharmaceuticals, but CAS did not correlate with either of the UA values.

CONCLUSIONS

(99m)Tc-DTPA eye SPET is a potentially useful method, allowing rapid imaging at an acceptable cost. It provides essential supplementary information to traditional CAS in assessing disease activity in Graves' orbitopathy.

Orbital gallium-67 scintigraphy in Graves' ophthalmopathy: a disease activity parameter that predicts the therapeutic response to immunosuppressive treatment

In this study, orbital gallium-67 citrate ((67)Ga) scintigraphy was evaluated as a disease activity parameter that can predict the therapeutic response to immunosuppressive treatment in Graves' ophthalmopathy. Orbital scintigraphic analysis was performed on 32 patients demonstrating moderate to severe Graves' ophthalmopathy. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images were obtained 48 hours after intravenous injection of 148 MBq of radioactive (67)Ga complex, and orbit/occipital (O/Occ) ratios were calculated to correct the background activity. Intravenous methylprednisolone was given as immunosuppressive treatment to 24 patients (group 1) and 8 patients were followed up without any treatment and evaluated as controls (group 2). Orbital (67)Ga scintigraphy was repeated in all patients after 6 months to analyze the changes in clinical findings and orbital (67)Ga accumulation. In Group 1, the mean +/- standard deviation (SD) (67)Ga O/Occ ratio of responders (2.23 +/- 0.2, 16 cases) was statistically different from nonresponders (1.49 +/- 0.1, 8 cases, p < 0.001). Additionally, the corticosteroid treatment provided a significant decrease in orbital (67)Ga accumulation in responders (p < 0.001), however, it did not change statistically in nonresponders (p:0.13). In group 2, the patients did not demonstrate clinical improvement and orbital (67)Ga uptake did not change after the follow-up period (p:0.81). The receiver-operator-characteristic curve showed that the best threshold for discriminating responder and nonresponder groups was 1.70 (sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 88%). This study demonstrated that orbital (67)Ga scintigraphy may be a useful imaging technique in predicting the therapeutic response to immunosuppressive treatment in Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Volume changes in intra- and extraorbital compartments in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy: effect of smoking

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effect of smoking history on soft tissue expansion in specific orbital compartments in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. The volumes of the rectus muscles, intra and extraorbital connective, and soft tissues were measured in 110 orbits of 35 patients and 20 control subjects. Data sets from current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers were compared. The total number of cigarettes smoked was calculated, and it was used as an estimate for the severity of smoking (cumulative smoking). The volume measurements were performed on T1-weighted contiguous transversal magnetic resonance images of the orbits. Connective tissue volumes were influenced by smoking history, while muscle volumes were not affected. Ex-smokers had larger amount of extraorbital connective tissue than current smokers (p = 0.012), and this volume showed a good correlation with the number of cigarettes smoked (r = 0.539, p < 0.05). In current smokers, the amount of intraorbital connective tissue correlated well with the cumulative smoking (r = 0.635, p < 0.001). We conclude that connective tissue volumes in certain orbital compartments correlate well with cumulative smoking. Extraocular muscle volumes are not influenced by smoking in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Ophthalmological evaluation in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disorder associated with Graves' disease and can seriously decrease quality of life. Current therapeutic regimens have considerable side-effects and are not always able to restore normal function and appearance. Timing and a proper choice of therapy are critical but require careful patient evaluation. The present paper aims to describe clinical symptoms and signs of TAO and their relevance for management.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy has an initial active inflammatory phase which usually lasts for 6-24 months but which may not infrequently continue for several years. The severity of the subsequent clinical manifestations is determined by the degree of optic nerve involvement, corneal involvement, eye muscle dysfunction and exophthalmus, and also by the degree of subjective illness and disfigurement. Disease severity is the key determinant of indication for therapy, while inflammatory activity is the key determinant of therapeutic choice. Immunosuppressive therapy may be used in the inflammatory stage, while reconstructive surgery should be postponed to the inactive phase. Emergency surgery may be needed for vision-threatening situations during the active stage.

Graves' ophthalmopathy: a rational approach to treatment

The past decade has witnessed great progress in our understanding of Graves' opthalmopathy (GO), although its precise immunopathogenesis remains an enigma. Several clinical studies have provided a more rational basis for treatment of this distressing disease, which significantly lowers the quality of life. A management plan tailored to the patient's needs can be devised according to the severity and activity of the eye disease. In active GO, immunosuppression might be considered. The combination of intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone and retrobulbar irradiation improves eye changes in 88% of patients, and is well tolerated. Once the disease has become inactive, rehabilitative surgery could be performed (orbital decompression, strabismus surgery and eyelid surgery, in that order). The patient should be reassured that functional and cosmetic improvement of eye changes is feasible, but restoration can require one to two years. To a certain extent, refraining from smoking prevents the development or worsening of GO.

High dose intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy versus oral prednisone for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

To compare the effectiveness of intravenous (i.v.) methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral prednisone when used as the initial treatment of patients with mild or moderate thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

METHODS

Thirty-three consecutive patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in Helsinki and Turku University Hospitals were randomly assigned either i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy (group A, n = 18) or oral prednisone (group B, n = 15). Treatment outcomes were measured by subjective changes in the grade of diplopia and quantitatively in several ophthalmic variables at 3 and 12 months. Any decision to proceed with additional treatment at 3 months was made on clinical grounds. The study was open in respect of both the initial treatment and the need for additional therapy.

RESULTS

No significant differences in the grade of diplopia, proptosis or soft tissue activity scores were noted between groups A and B from 0 to 3 months. However, group A required additional forms of therapy at 3 months less frequently than did group B (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy and oral prednisone are equally effective as initial treatments for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy where diplopia, proptosis and signs of soft tissue inflammation are concerned. When additional treatment is required, i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy may be more effective than oral prednisone. However, the study's limitations meant that any decision to give additional treatment after the initial therapy was made on clinical grounds.

Graves ophthalmopathy

Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease that typically affects the thyroid gland and the orbit. The roles of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor and cellular and humoral immunity in the pathogenesis of GO are being investigated. Investigators are gaining insights into the epidemiology of GO as it relates to other ocular and autoimmune diseases. Several possible tools for assessing GO disease activity are being studied. Medical and radiation therapy for GO recently have been evaluated prospectively. Orbital surgeons continue to refine orbital decompression techniques to improve patient outcomes and minimize surgical complications.