Management of Thyrotoxicosis in Patients with Ophthalmopathy: Antithyroid Regimen Determined Primarily by Ocular Manifestations

Abstract

The thyrotoxicosis of 129 patients who had opthalmopathy prior to treatment was controlled with anti-thyroid drugs according to a regimen in which eye findings played a determining role. When the ophthalmopathic process appeared to be active or advancing, thyrotoxicosis was diminished only to the degree demanded by the patient''s general condition; when the eye disorder was stable or became inactive, euthyroidism was quickly attained. None of the 129 patients required any ocular surgery and in none did the ophthalmopathy become significantly worse. This regimen appears less likely to be accompanied by a worsening of the ophthalmopathy than do others hitherto reported.