Graves' ophthalmopathy

Graves’ ophthalmopathy, also known as thyroid eye disease (TED), is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of the orbit and periorbital tissues, characterized by upper eyelid retraction, lid lag, swelling, redness (erythema), conjunctivitis, and bulging eyes (exophthalmos).[1] It occurs most commonly in individuals with Graves' disease,[2] and less commonly in individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis,[3] or in those who are euthyroid.[4]

Graves ophthalmopathy
Other namesThyroid eye disease (TED), dysthyroid/thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO), Graves' orbitopathy (GO)
Bulging eyes and lid retraction from Graves' disease
SpecialtyOphthalmology 

It is part of a systemic process with variable expression in the eyes, thyroid, and skin, caused by autoantibodies that bind to tissues in those organs. The autoantibodies target the fibroblasts in the eye muscles, and those fibroblasts can differentiate into fat cells (adipocytes). Fat cells and muscles expand and become inflamed. Veins become compressed and are unable to drain fluid, causing edema.[1]

Annual incidence is 16/100,000 in women, 3/100,000 in men. About 3–5% have severe disease with intense pain, and sight-threatening corneal ulceration or compression of the optic nerve. Cigarette smoking, which is associated with many autoimmune diseases, raises the incidence 7.7-fold.[1]

Mild disease will often resolve and merely requires measures to reduce discomfort and dryness, such as artificial tears and smoking cessation if possible. Severe cases are a medical emergency, and are treated with glucocorticoids (steroids), and sometimes ciclosporin.[5] Many anti-inflammatory biological mediators, such as infliximab, etanercept, and anakinra are being tried.[1] In January 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved teprotumumab-trbw for the treatment of Graves’ ophthalmopathy.[6]

Signs and symptoms

In mild disease, patients present with eyelid retraction. In fact, upper eyelid retraction is the most common ocular sign of Graves' orbitopathy. This finding is associated with lid lag on infraduction (Von Graefe's sign), eye globe lag on supraduction (Kocher's sign), a widened palpebral fissure during fixation (Dalrymple's sign) and an incapacity of closing the eyelids completely (lagophthalmos, Stellwag's sign). Due to the proptosis, eyelid retraction and lagophthalmos, the cornea is more prone to dryness and may present with chemosis, punctate epithelial erosions and superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. The patients also have a dysfunction of the lacrimal gland with a decrease of the quantity and composition of tears produced. Non-specific symptoms with these pathologies include irritation, grittiness, photophobia, tearing, and blurred vision. Pain is not typical, but patients often complain of pressure in the orbit. Periorbital swelling due to inflammation can also be observed.

Eye signs[7]
Sign Description Named for
Abadie's sign Elevator muscle of upper eyelid is spastic. Jean Marie Charles Abadie (1842–1932)
Ballet's sign Paralysis of one or more EOM Louis Gilbert Simeon Ballet (1853–1916)
Becker's sign Abnormal intense pulsation of retina's arteries Otto Heinrich Enoch Becker (1828–1890)
Boston's sign Jerky movements of upper lid on lower gaze Leonard Napoleon Boston (1871–1931)
Cowen's sign Extensive hippus of consensual pupillary reflex Jack Posner Cowen, American ophthalmologist (1906–1989)
Dalrymple's sign Upper eyelid retraction John Dalrymple (1803–1852)
Enroth's sign Edema esp. of the upper eyelid Emil Emanuel Enroth, Finnish ophthalmologist (1879–1953)
Gifford's sign Difficulty in eversion of upper lid. Harold Gifford (1858–1929)
Goldzieher's sign Deep injection of conjunctiva, especially temporal Wilhelm Goldzieher, Hungarian ophthalmologist (1849–1916)
Griffith's sign Lower lid lag on upward gaze Alexander James Hill Griffith, English ophthalmologist (1858–1937)
Hertoghe's sign Loss of eyebrows laterally Eugene Louis Chretien Hertoghe, Dutch thyroid pathologist (1860–1928)
Jellinek's sign Superior eyelid folds is hyperpigmented Edward Jellinek, English ophthalmologist and pathologist (1890–1963)
Joffroy's sign Absent creases in the fore head on upward gaze. Alexis Joffroy (1844–1908)
Jendrassik's sign Abduction and rotation of eyeball is limited also Ernő Jendrassik (1858–1921)
Knies's sign Uneven pupillary dilatation in dim light Max Knies, German ophthalmologist (1851–1917)
Kocher's sign Spasmatic retraction of upper lid on fixation Emil Theodor Kocher (1841–1917)
Loewi's sign Quick Mydriasis after instillation of 1:1000 adrenaline Otto Loewi (1873–1961)
Mann's sign Eyes seem to be situated at different levels because of tanned skin. John Dixon Mann, English pathologist and forensic scientist (1840–1912)
Mean sign Increased scleral show on upgaze (globe lag) Named after the expression of being "mean" when viewed from afar, due to the scleral show
Möbius's sign Lack of convergence Paul Julius Möbius (1853–1907)
Payne–Trousseau's sign Dislocation of globe John Howard Payne, American surgeon (1916–1983), Armand Trousseau (1801–1867)
Pochin's sign Reduced amplitude of blinking Sir Edward Eric Pochin (1909–1990)
Riesman's sign Bruit over the eyelid David Riesman, American physician (1867–1940)
Movement's cap phenomenon Eyeball movements are performed difficultly, abruptly and incompletely
Rosenbach's sign Eyelids are animated by thin tremors when closed Ottomar Ernst Felix Rosenbach (1851–1907)
Snellen–Riesman's sign When placing the stethoscope's capsule over closed eyelids a systolic murmur could be heard Herman Snellen (1834–1908), David Riesman, American physician (1867–1940)
Stellwag's sign Incomplete and infrequent blinking Karl Stellwag (1823–1904)
Suker's sign Inability to maintain fixation on extreme lateral gaze George Francis "Franklin" Suker, American ophthalmologist (1869–1933)
Topolanski's sign Around insertion areas of the four rectus muscles of the eyeball a vascular band network is noticed and this network joints the four insertion points. Alfred Topolanski, Austrian ophthalmologist (1861–1960)
von Graefe's sign Upper lid lag on down gaze Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Albrecht von Gräfe (1828–1870)
Wilder's sign Jerking of the eye on movement from abduction to adduction Helenor Campbell Wilder (née Foerster), American ophthalmologist (1895–1998)

In moderate active disease, the signs and symptoms are persistent and increasing and include myopathy. The inflammation and edema of the extraocular muscles lead to gaze abnormalities. The inferior rectus muscle is the most commonly affected muscle and patient may experience vertical diplopia on upgaze and limitation of elevation of the eyes due to fibrosis of the muscle. This may also increase the intraocular pressure of the eyes. The double vision is initially intermittent but can gradually become chronic. The medial rectus is the second-most-commonly-affected muscle, but multiple muscles may be affected, in an asymmetric fashion.

In more severe and active disease, mass effects and cicatricial changes occur within the orbit. This is manifested by a progressive exophthalmos, a restrictive myopathy that restricts eye movements and an optic neuropathy. With enlargement of the extraocular muscle at the orbital apex, the optic nerve is at risk of compression. The orbital fat or the stretching of the nerve due to increased orbital volume may also lead to optic nerve damage. The patient experiences a loss of visual acuity, visual field defect, afferent pupillary defect, and loss of color vision. This is an emergency and requires immediate surgery to prevent permanent blindness.

Pathophysiology
Magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits, showing congestion of the retro-orbital space and enlargement of the extraocular muscles (arrows), consistent with the diagnosis of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

TAO is an orbital autoimmune disease. The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R) is an antigen found in orbital fat and connective tissue, and is a target for autoimmune assault.

On histological examination, there is an infiltration of the orbital connective tissue by lymphocytes, plasmocytes, and mastocytes. The inflammation results in a deposition of collagen and glycosaminoglycans in the muscles, which leads to subsequent enlargement and fibrosis. There is also an induction of the lipogenesis by fibroblasts and preadipocytes, which causes enlargement of the orbital fat and extra-ocular muscle compartments. This increase in volume of the intraorbital contents within the confines of the bony orbit may lead to dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON), increased intraocular pressures, proptosis, and venous congestion leading to chemosis and periorbital oedema.[8][9] In addition, the expansion of the intraorbital soft tissue volume may also remodel the bony orbit and enlarge it, which may be a form of auto-decompression.[10]

Diagnostic

Graves' ophthalmopathy is diagnosed clinically by the presenting ocular signs and symptoms, but positive tests for antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin, anti-microsomal and anti-thyrotropin receptor) and abnormalities in thyroid hormones level (T3, T4, and TSH) help in supporting the diagnosis.

Orbital imaging is an interesting tool for the diagnosis of Graves' ophthalmopathy and is useful in monitoring patients for progression of the disease. It is, however, not warranted when the diagnosis can be established clinically. Ultrasonography may detect early Graves' orbitopathy in patients without clinical orbital findings. It is less reliable than the CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, to assess the extraocular muscle involvement at the orbital apex, which may lead to blindness. Thus, CT scan or MRI is necessary when optic nerve involvement is suspected. On neuroimaging, the most characteristic findings are thick extraocular muscles with tendon sparing, usually bilateral, and proptosis.

Classification

Mnemonic: "NO SPECS":[11]

ClassDescription
Class 0No signs or symptoms
Class 1Only signs (limited to upper lid retraction and stare, with or without lid lag)
Class 2Soft tissue involvement (oedema of conjunctivae and lids, conjunctival injection, etc.)
Class 3Proptosis
Class 4Extraocular muscle involvement (usually with diplopia)
Class 5Corneal involvement (primarily due to lagophthalmos)
Class 6Sight loss (due to optic nerve involvement)

Prevention

Not smoking is a common suggestion in the literature. Apart from smoking cessation, there is little definitive research in this area. In addition to the selenium studies above, some recent research also is suggestive that statin use may assist.[12][13]

Treatment

Even though some people undergo spontaneous remission of symptoms within a year, many need treatment. The first step is the regulation of thyroid hormone levels. Topical lubrication of the eye is used to avoid corneal damage caused by exposure. Corticosteroids are efficient in reducing orbital inflammation, but the benefits cease after discontinuation. Corticosteroids treatment is also limited because of their many side effects. Radiotherapy is an alternative option to reduce acute orbital inflammation. However, there is still controversy surrounding its efficacy. A simple way of reducing inflammation is to stop smoking, as pro-inflammatory substances are found in cigarettes. The medication teprotumumab-trbw may also be used.[14][15] There is tentative evidence for selenium in mild disease.[16] Tocilizumab, a drug used to suppress the immune system has also been studied as a treatment for TED. However, a Cochrane Review published in 2018 found no evidence (no relevant clinical studies were published) to show that tocilizumab works in people with TED.[17]

In January 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration approved teprotumumab-trbw for the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy.[6]

Surgery

There is some evidence that a total or sub-total thyroidectomy may assist in reducing levels of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAbs) and as a consequence reduce the eye symptoms, perhaps after a 12-month lag.[18][12][19][20][21] However, a 2015 meta review found no such benefits,[22] and there is some evidence that suggests that surgery is no better than medication.[23]

Surgery may be done to decompress the orbit, to improve the proptosis, and to address the strabismus causing diplopia. Surgery is performed once the person's disease has been stable for at least six months. In severe cases, however, the surgery becomes urgent to prevent blindness from optic nerve compression. Because the eye socket is bone, there is nowhere for eye muscle swelling to be accommodated, and, as a result, the eye is pushed forward into a protruded position. Orbital decompression involves removing some bone from the eye socket to open up one or more sinuses and so make space for the swollen tissue and allowing the eye to move back into normal position and also relieving compression of the optic nerve that can threaten sight.

Eyelid surgery is the most common surgery performed on Graves ophthalmopathy patients. Lid-lengthening surgeries can be done on upper and lower eyelid to correct the patient's appearance and the ocular surface exposure symptoms. Marginal myotomy of levator palpebrae muscle can reduce the palpebral fissure height by 2–3 mm. When there is a more severe upper lid retraction or exposure keratitis, marginal myotomy of levator palpebrae associated with lateral tarsal canthoplasty is recommended. This procedure can lower the upper eyelid by as much as 8 mm. Other approaches include müllerectomy (resection of the Müller muscle), eyelid spacer grafts, and recession of the lower eyelid retractors. Blepharoplasty can also be done to debulk the excess fat in the lower eyelid.[24]

A summary of treatment recommendations was published in 2015 by an Italian taskforce,[25] which largely supports the other studies.

Prognosis

Risk factors of progressive and severe thyroid-associated orbitopathy are:

Epidemiology

The pathology mostly affects persons of 30 to 50 years of age. Females are four times more likely to develop TAO than males. When males are affected, they tend to have a later onset and a poor prognosis. A study demonstrated that at the time of diagnosis, 90% of the patients with clinical orbitopathy were hyperthyroid according to thyroid function tests, while 3% had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 1% were hypothyroid and 6% did not have any thyroid function tests abnormality.[26] Of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism, 20 to 25 percent have clinically obvious Graves' ophthalmopathy, while only 3–5% will develop severe ophthalmopathy.[27][28]

History

In medical literature, Robert James Graves, in 1835, was the first to describe the association of a thyroid goitre with exophthalmos (proptosis) of the eye.[29] Graves' ophthalmopathy may occur before, with, or after the onset of overt thyroid disease and usually has a slow onset over many months.

See also

References
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  2. Wiersinga WM, Bartalena L (October 2002). "Epidemiology and prevention of Graves' ophthalmopathy". Thyroid. 12 (10): 855–860. doi:10.1089/105072502761016476. PMID 12487767.
  3. Kan E, Kan EK, Ecemis G, Colak R (2014-08-18). "Presence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in Hashimoto's thyroiditis". International Journal of Ophthalmology. 7 (4): 644–647. doi:10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2014.04.10. PMC 4137199. PMID 25161935.
  4. Solomon DH, Chopra IJ, Chopra U, Smith FJ (January 1977). "Identification of subgroups of euthyroid graves's ophthalmopathy". The New England Journal of Medicine. 296 (4): 181–186. doi:10.1056/nejm197701272960401. PMID 576175.
  5. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th Ed., Ch. 320, Disorders of the Thyroid Gland
  6. Office of the Commissioner (2020-03-24). "FDA approves first treatment for thyroid eye disease". FDA. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
  7. Rao R (2013). "Thyroid Eye diseases". Online Resources of Opthalmology. Archived from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
  8. Feldon SE, Muramatsu S, Weiner JM (October 1984). "Clinical classification of Graves' ophthalmopathy. Identification of risk factors for optic neuropathy". Archives of Ophthalmology. 102 (10): 1469–1472. doi:10.1001/archopht.1984.01040031189015. PMID 6548373.
  9. Ohtsuka K (October 1997). "Intraocular pressure and proptosis in 95 patients with Graves ophthalmopathy". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 124 (4): 570–572. doi:10.1016/s0002-9394(14)70883-9. PMID 9323958.
  10. Tan NY, Leong YY, Lang SS, Htoon ZM, Young SM, Sundar G (May 2017). "Radiologic Parameters of Orbital Bone Remodeling in Thyroid Eye Disease". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 58 (5): 2527–2533. doi:10.1167/iovs.16-21035. PMID 28492870.
  11. Cawood T, Moriarty P, O'Shea D (August 2004). "Recent developments in thyroid eye disease". BMJ. 329 (7462): 385–390. doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.385. PMC 509348. PMID 15310608.
  12. De Bellis A, Conzo G, Cennamo G, Pane E, Bellastella G, Colella C, et al. (April 2012). "Time course of Graves' ophthalmopathy after total thyroidectomy alone or followed by radioiodine therapy: a 2-year longitudinal study". Endocrine. 41 (2): 320–326. doi:10.1007/s12020-011-9559-x. PMID 22169963. S2CID 8197441.
  13. Kuehn BM (15 December 2014). "Surgery, Statins Linked to Lower Graves' Complication Risk". Medscape Medical News.
  14. Shah K, Charitou M (2022-07-01). "A Novel Case of Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State After the Use of Teprotumumab in a Patient With Thyroid Eye Disease". AACE Clinical Case Reports. 8 (4): 148–149. doi:10.1016/j.aace.2022.01.004. PMC 9363510. PMID 35959086.
  15. "FDA approves first treatment for thyroid eye disease". FDA. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  16. Ruchała M, Sawicka-Gutaj N (July 2016). "Advances in the pharmacological treatment of Graves' orbitopathy". Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. 9 (7): 981–989. doi:10.1586/17512433.2016.1165606. PMID 26966785. S2CID 9780703.
  17. Hamed Azzam S, Kang S, Salvi M, Ezra DG, et al. (Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group) (November 2018). "Tocilizumab for thyroid eye disease". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018 (11): CD012984. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012984.pub2. PMC 6517231. PMID 30480323.
  18. Takamura Y, Nakano K, Uruno T, Ito Y, Miya A, Kobayashi K, et al. (October 2003). "Changes in serum TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) values in patients with Graves' disease after total or subtotal thyroidectomy". Endocrine Journal. 50 (5): 595–601. doi:10.1507/endocrj.50.595. PMID 14614216.
  19. Bhargav PR, Sabaretnam M, Kumar SC, Zwalitha S, Devi NV (December 2017). "Regression of Ophthalmopathic Exophthalmos in Graves' Disease After Total Thyroidectomy: a Prospective Study of a Surgical Series". The Indian Journal of Surgery. 79 (6): 521–526. doi:10.1007/s12262-016-1516-8. PMC 5711711. PMID 29217903.
  20. Nart A, Uslu A, Aykas A, Yuzbasioglu F, Dogan M, Demirtas O, Simsek C (July 2008). "Total thyroidectomy for the treatment of recurrent graves' disease with ophthalmopathy". Asian Journal of Surgery. 31 (3): 115–118. doi:10.1016/S1015-9584(08)60070-6. PMID 18658008.
  21. Lowery AJ, Kerin MJ (October 2009). "Graves' ophthalmopathy: the case for thyroid surgery". The Surgeon. 7 (5): 290–296. doi:10.1016/s1479-666x(09)80007-3. PMID 19848063.
  22. Liu ZW, Masterson L, Fish B, Jani P, Chatterjee K (November 2015). "Thyroid surgery for Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (11): CD010576. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010576.pub2. PMID 26606533.
  23. Laurberg P, Wallin G, Tallstedt L, Abraham-Nordling M, Lundell G, Tørring O (January 2008). "TSH-receptor autoimmunity in Graves' disease after therapy with anti-thyroid drugs, surgery, or radioiodine: a 5-year prospective randomized study". European Journal of Endocrinology. 158 (1): 69–75. doi:10.1530/EJE-07-0450. PMID 18166819.
  24. Muratet JM. "Eyelid retraction". Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. Le Syndicat National des Ophtalmologistes de France. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  25. Bartalena L, Macchia PE, Marcocci C, Salvi M, Vermiglio F (April 2015). "Effects of treatment modalities for Graves' hyperthyroidism on Graves' orbitopathy: a 2015 Italian Society of Endocrinology Consensus Statement". Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 38 (4): 481–487. doi:10.1007/s40618-015-0257-z. PMC 4374116. PMID 25722226.
  26. Bartley GB, Fatourechi V, Kadrmas EF, Jacobsen SJ, Ilstrup DM, Garrity JA, Gorman CA (March 1996). "Clinical features of Graves' ophthalmopathy in an incidence cohort". American Journal of Ophthalmology. 121 (3): 284–290. doi:10.1016/s0002-9394(14)70276-4. PMID 8597271.
  27. Davies TF, Burch HB (September 2009). Ross DS, Martin KA (eds.). "Pathogenesis and clinical features of Graves' ophthalmopathy (orbitopathy)". UpToDate.
  28. Bartalena L, Marcocci C, Pinchera A (April 2002). "Graves' ophthalmopathy: a preventable disease?". European Journal of Endocrinology. 146 (4): 457–461. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1460457. PMID 11916611.
  29. Robert James Graves at Who Named It?

Further reading
  • Behbehani R, Sergott RC, Savino PJ (December 2004). "Orbital radiotherapy for thyroid-related orbitopathy". Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 15 (6): 479–482. doi:10.1097/01.icu.0000144388.89867.03. PMID 15523191. S2CID 31340321.
  • Boncoeur MP (September 2004). "[Dysthyroid orbitopathy: imaging]" [Imaging techniques in Graves disease : Dysthyroid orbitopathy]. Journal Français d'Ophtalmologie (in French). 27 (7): 815–818. doi:10.1016/S0181-5512(04)96221-3. PMID 15499283. INIST:16100159.
  • Boulos PR, Hardy I (October 2004). "Thyroid-associated orbitopathy: a clinicopathologic and therapeutic review". Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 15 (5): 389–400. doi:10.1097/01.icu.0000139992.15463.1b. PMID 15625899. S2CID 23194226.
  • Camezind P, Robert PY, Adenis JP (September 2004). "[Clinical signs of dysthyroid orbitopathy]" [Clinical signs of dysthyroid orbitopathy : Dysthyroid orbitopathy]. Journal Français d'Ophtalmologie (in French). 27 (7): 810–814. doi:10.1016/S0181-5512(04)96220-1. PMID 15499282. INIST:16100158.
  • Duker JS, Yanoff M (2004). "chapt 95". Ophthalmology (2nd ed.). Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-02907-0.
  • Morax S, Ben Ayed H (September 2004). "[Orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy: a review of techniques and indications]" [Orbital decompression for dysthyroid orbitopathy: a review of techniques and indications]. Journal Français d'Ophtalmologie (in French). 27 (7): 828–844. doi:10.1016/s0181-5512(04)96225-0. PMID 15499287.
  • Rose JG, Burkat CN, Boxrud CA (October 2005). "Diagnosis and management of thyroid orbitopathy". Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 38 (5): 1043–1074. doi:10.1016/j.otc.2005.03.015. PMID 16214573.
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