Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels may help evaluate TED prognosis

Although the clinical course of thyroid eye disease (TED) is heterogeneous, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) and TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) levels may help evaluate the course of disease activity, according to a study.

In this prospective, observational study, 76 patients with newly diagnosed TED had clinical characteristics and serum TRAb levels evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) and TSH-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII) levels decreased during the study period, whereas most decrease in disease activity measured was seen in the first 6 months. There was no change in disease severity or proptosis.

Inter-person differences in TBII levels were associated with clinical activity score (CAS), NOSPECS score, and proptosis over time, whereas inter-person differences in TSI levels were associated with NOSPECS score.

In patients with a baseline CAS≥4, changes in TSI levels appeared to affect CAS and NOSPECS scores, according to subgroup analysis.

Subgroup analysis of patients with a baseline CAS≥4 demonstrated that within-person changes in TSI levels affected the CAS and NOSPECS score.

Reference
Ko J, Kook KH, Yoon JS, et al; Korean Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Longitudinal association of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin levels with clinical characteristics in thyroid eye disease. BMJ Open. 2022;12(6):e050337. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050337. PMID: 35728893; PMCID: PMC9214404.