Use of corticosteroids to prevent progression of Graves' ophthalmopathy after radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.

We studied the effects of radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease on Graves' ophthalmopathy and the possible protective role of corticosteroids. Between June 1985 and June 1988, 26 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with radioiodine alone (group 1) and 26 to treatment with this agent and concomitant administration of systemic prednisone for four months (group 2). The initial dose of prednisone was 0.

More on smoking habits and Graves' ophthalmopathy.

Since a relationship between cigarette smoking and the occurrence of Graves' ophthalmopathy has been recently postulated, we reviewed the smoking habits of 1730 women, including subjects without thyroid disease, with nontoxic goiter (NTG), toxic nodular goiter or toxic adenoma (TNG), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), Graves' disease without ophthalmopathy (GD) or with ophthalmopathy (GO). The prevalence of smokers in NTG, TNG and HT was about 30%, not different from that of controls. Smokers were 47.

Orbital decompression for severe Graves' ophthalmopathy. Results of a three-wall operative technique.

Nine patients out of more than 300 with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy followed in this institution were submitted to orbital decompression carried out on 16 eyes by a three-wall procedure consisting of a transfrontal approach with the removal of the roof, the lateral wall and part of the floor of the orbit. All patients had been previously unsuccessfully treated by orbital radiotherapy and/or systemic corticosteroid administration. The main indications for surgery were marked proptosis or sight-threatening optic neuropathy.

Studies on the occurrence of ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease.

Eye disease was associated with hyperthyroidism in 202 of 221 patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy (91.4%) and was not accompanied by thyroid hyperfunction (euthyroid Graves' disease) in the remaining 19 (8.6%).