The Increment of Choroidal Thickness in Euthyroid Graves' Ophthalmopathy: Is It an Early Sign of Venous Congestion?

Eylem Cagiltay,Ozgur Demir,Fahrettin Akay,Erdinç Aydın,Berkay Akmaz,Baris Pamuk

doi:10.1155/2018/5891531

Eylem Cagiltay, Ozgur Demir + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5891531

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Abstract

Objective Clinical manifestations of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) are caused by the overcompression of orbital tissues within the restricted orbital bone cavity. Impaired ocular blood flow may disrupt the retinal microstructure and functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the macular and choroidal thickness changes in GO compared with healthy subjects. Materials and Methods The study group comprised 50 adult patients with previously diagnosed Graves' disease with ophthalmopathy who were on antithyroid treatment. For the assessment of GO activity, the VISA (vision, inflammation, strabismus, and appearance) inflammatory score was used. When euthyroidism was achieved without side effects, the patients were referred to the ophthalmology clinic for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) evaluation. Results Subfoveal, mean, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were increased significantly in the study group according to the controls. The mean choroidal thickness was elevated. Conclusions This elevation is because of the intraorbital inflammation even in this nonsevere GO group. Choroidal thickness might be affected from the venous obstruction and congestion in patients with GO. The elevation of the choroidal thickness might be an early sign of venous congestion that occurs before the elevation of intraocular pressure.

Highlights

Graves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune disorder which causes different impairments in the thyroid gland, orbit, and pretibial skin. e incidence of GD is approximately 5% in the population [1]
We aimed to investigate the choroidal thickness changes in euthyroid Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) patients compared with healthy subjects
Pearson analysis (p 0.001, r 0.646) (Figure 2). e mean choroidal thickness was accepted as a dependent variable, and exophthalmometry, disease duration, mean blood pressure, and axial length parameters were accepted as independent variables in multivariate analysis. ere were no significant correlations between the factors (p > 0.05)

Summary

Objective

Clinical manifestations of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) are caused by the overcompression of orbital tissues within the restricted orbital bone cavity. We aimed to investigate the macular and choroidal thickness changes in GO compared with healthy subjects. E study group comprised 50 adult patients with previously diagnosed Graves’ disease with ophthalmopathy who were on antithyroid treatment. Mean, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were increased significantly in the study group according to the controls. Is elevation is because of the intraorbital inflammation even in this nonsevere GO group. Choroidal thickness might be affected from the venous obstruction and congestion in patients with GO. E elevation of the choroidal thickness might be an early sign of venous congestion that occurs before the elevation of intraocular pressure Choroidal thickness might be affected from the venous obstruction and congestion in patients with GO. e elevation of the choroidal thickness might be an early sign of venous congestion that occurs before the elevation of intraocular pressure

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