Pathogenesis of Graves' Ophthalmopathy

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 329; no. 20; pp. 1468 - 1475
• Main Authors: Bahn, Rebecca S, Heufelder, Armin E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 11-11-1993
• Subjects: Antibody Formation; Autoimmune diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Endocrinopathies; Glycosaminoglycans - biosynthesis; Graves Disease - immunology; Graves Disease - pathology; Graves Disease - therapy; Heat-Shock Proteins - biosynthesis; Humans; Malignant tumors; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Receptors, Thyrotropin - physiology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Thyroid gland; Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases); Endocrinopathy; Human; Pathology; Eye disease; Exophthalmus; Radiodiagnosis; Pathogenesis; Hyperthyroidism; Thyroid diseases; Exploration; Computerized axial tomography
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199311113292007

Ophthalmopathy is a potentially disfiguring and sight-threatening component of Graves' disease. It is clinically evident in 25 to 50 percent of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism and occurs occasionally in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and in those with Graves' disease but no evident thyroid disease
1
. At present, ophthalmopathy is not preventable, and treatment options for established, symptomatic disease are limited. To develop new strategies for the treatment and prevention of Graves' ophthalmopathy, a better understanding of its pathogenesis is necessary. In this paper we review studies aimed at identifying the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Clinical Features
Patients . . .