Endocrine Abstracts

High dose steroids are effective in treating active thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), however the side effects are considerable. This study aimed to establish whether long term response to intravenous methylprednisolone can be predicted by a detailed ophthalmological assessment 1 to 2 weeks after the first dose of steroid.45 patients with moderate to severe, active TAO (including 31 with optic neuropathy), treated with intravenous methylprednisolo...

Acromegaly and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO) are uncommon diseases with different pathogenetic mechanisms.We report two patients with acromegaly and TAO and speculate on a possible association.A 54 year old man with subclinical hypothyroidism and strongly positive thyroid microsomal antibodies presented with features of TAO.MRI of his orbits confirmed the diagnosis.Clinical examination also revealed features suggestive of acromegaly,which was co...

Radioidine (RI) has been implicated as an adverse factor causing deterioration of Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO). Oral steroids administered after RI appear to protect patients' eyes, and this practice is now widespread. Two factors may confound the controversy surrounding the effects of RI on TAO. Firstly hypothyroidism, which is common after RI and is independently detrimental to the eyes, and secondly studying patients who are in different phases of the natural his...

High dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy is used in patients with severe thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and other inflammatory disorders. Although in the short-term it appears to be safe, the acute metabolic effects of this regimen have not been studied in detail.We studied 15 patients with severe TAO, aged 59 ± 10 (mean ± SD) years. One patient was known to have type 2 diabetes. Each patient received 500 mg of iv methyprednisolone daily on t...

Thyroid eye disease is the most frequent extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease. Severe and active disease is frequently treated with immunosuppressive therapy. IV methylprednisolone (500 mg daily for 3 days) is the treatment of choice with efficacy rates of up to 77%. New onset glucose intolerance/diabetes is the most relevant side effect of this treatment. We investigated the risk of steroid induced diabetes and the risk factors for its development.<p class...