A Study of Factors Related to the Course of Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

Kim, Joong Hun; Lee, Tae Soo

doi:2011.52.3.255

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > Volume 52(3); 2011 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2011;52(3):255-260.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.3.255 Published online March 15, 2011.

A Study of Factors Related to the Course of Graves' Ophthalmopathy.

Joong Hun Kim, Tae Soo Lee

Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. tsoooo@hanmail.net

갑상선 안병증에서 병의 경과에 영향을 미치는 요인들에 관한 연구

김중훈⋅이태수

Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the risk factors related to the course of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 125 patients who were referred to our clinic and diagnosed with GO from March 2006 to August 2008. Ophthalmic examinations and a thyroid function test including TSI were performed at the time of diagnosis and every 3 months after diagnosis. All patients were classified as having a mild or severe course of GO, according to Clinical Activity Score (CAS) and NOSPECS classifications. RESULTS: This statistical analysis of each group revealed that female sex (p = 0.04), age (p = 0.0004), smoking (p = 0.003), and high TSI level (p = 0.009) were significant factors for severe course of GO at the time of diagnosis. TSI levels at each of the 3 visits during the follow-up were significantly higher in patients with a severe course of GO, as compared to patients with a mild course of GO (first visit: p = 0.003, second visit: p = 0.002, third visit: p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Female sex, age, smoking, and high TSI level appear to be the risk factors that can predict the severity of GO at the time of diagnosis. Additionally, the TSI level can reflect the severity of GO during the follow-up periods.

Key Words: Graves' ophthalmopathy;Risk factor;Severity