Advances in the pharmacological treatment of Graves' orbitopathy

Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2016 Jul;9(7):981-9. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2016.1165606. Epub 2016 Mar 27.

Abstract

Graves' orbitopathy has a deteriorating effect on patients' appearance and vision, thus significantly decreases their quality of life. A multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, ophthalmologists, head and neck surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, and psychologists should constitute a standard health care team for those patients. It is vital that the therapy is based on an individual approach, with patients being well informed and involved in the decision-making process. Generally, traditional therapies include immunosuppression with steroids, orbital irradiation and surgical decompression. Novel treatment modalities include: biological agents, somatostatin analogs, antioxidants, methotrexate. Better insight into pathogenesis of Graves' orbitopathy is the only chance for targeted therapy development.

Keywords: Graves’ disease; Graves’ ophthalmopathy; Graves’ orbitopathy; antithyroid drugs; glucocorticoids; hyperthyroidism; radiotherapy; rituximab; selenium.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Decision Making
  • Drug Design*
  • Graves Ophthalmopathy / drug therapy*
  • Graves Ophthalmopathy / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Quality of Life*