Future Prospects for the Treatment of Graves' Hyperthyroidism and Eye Disease

• Published in: Hormone and metabolic research Vol. 47; no. 10; p. 789
• Main Authors: Neumann, S, Place, R F, Krieger, C C, Gershengorn, M C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01-09-2015
• Subjects: Autoantibodies - immunology; Graves Ophthalmopathy - therapy; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Receptor, IGF Type 1 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, IGF Type 1 - metabolism; Receptors, Thyrotropin - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Thyrotropin - immunology; Small Molecule Libraries - pharmacology; Small Molecule Libraries - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1439-4286
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555901

Although there are adequate therapies for Graves' hyperthyroidism, mild to moderate Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is usually treated symptomatically whereas definitive therapy is reserved for severe, vision-threatening GO. Importantly, none of the treatment regimens for Graves' disease used today are directed at the pathogenesis of the disease. Herein, we review some aspects of what is known about the pathogenesis of these 2 major components of Graves' disease, specifically the apparent important roles of the TSH and IGF-1 receptors, and thereafter describe future therapeutic approaches directed at these receptors. We propose that targeting these receptors will yield effective and better tolerated treatments for Graves' disease, especially for GO.