Glucocorticoid therapy reduces ocular hypertension in active moderate-severe thyroid-associated orbitopathy

Ocular hypertension (OHT) is an important clinical feature of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO).While the prevalence and outcome of OHT in TAO remains unclear. This study investigates this in moderate-severe active TAO.

Sixty-eight patients with active moderate-severe TAO were recruited, 49 of whom were treated with 12-week GC therapy.The clinical and biochemical parameters were collected.Treatment outcomes were evaluated after GC therapy.

The prevalence of OHT was 44.85% in moderate-severe active TAO patients,including 81.97% of mild hypertension, 13.11% of moderate hypertension and 4.92% of severe hypertension. Clinical and biochemical parameters had no significant difference between OHT patients and non-OHT patients,such as age, sex distributions, smoking status, the kind and the duration of thyroid disease,the duration of eye symptoms and the level of FT3,FT4,TSH, TR-Ab, and Tpo-Ab, Tg-Ab(all P > 0.05). After GC therapy,the intraocular pressure(IOP) in OHT eyes decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while IOP in non-OHT eyes remained unchanged (P > 0.05).There was no significant difference in CAS and the effective rate of GC therapy between OHT eyes and non-OHT eyes (P > 0.05).

In moderate-severe active TAO, the prevalence of OHT was 44.85%, most of which were mild hypertension.OHT was relieved by GC therapy,which had no effect on the efficacy of GC therapy.Our results will enhance physicians' confidence in GC therapy.