Inactive orbital disease most common form of Graves’ orbitopathy

Over the last 20 years in Turkey, the severity of Graves’ orbitopathy has been in decline, with most patients having mild or inactive orbital disease, according to a study.

In this retrospective study, 752 patients with Graves’ orbitopathy were divided according to the date of their first examination (Group 1: between January 1998 and December 2007; Group 2: between January 2008 and December 2017). The number of nonsmokers was significantly higher in Group 2.

Hyperthyroidism was most treated with antithyroid medications. In Group 2, the rate of radioiodine ablation was significantly lower (14.8 vs. 9.1%, P < 0.001). There were 22 months and 26.6 months between the diagnosis of thyroid disease and orbital involvement and 21 months and. 22.4 months between the diagnosis of orbital disease and referral to the clinic in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively.

In Group 2, mild and moderate to severe Graves’ orbitopathy and the mean Clinical Activity Score significantly increased, whereas the rate of sight-threatening disease and orbital decompression surgery significantly decreased.

Reference
Ozturk M, Konuk O, Tarlan B, et al. Clinical characteristics and the treatment modalities of Graves’ orbitopathy in a tertiary referral center in Turkey: changes over two decades. Int Ophthalmol. 2022;doi: 10.1007/s10792-022-02468-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36030455.