Thyroid Eye Disease: Pilot Study Comparison Between Patients in United States-Based and India-Based Practices

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Genetics

Background:

• Thyroid eye disease (TED) exhibits variable presentation influenced by ethnicity, genetics, and environment.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for effective diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare demographic and clinical characteristics of TED patients in the US and India.
• To identify potential differences in disease phenotype between diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• An observational pilot study involving 64 adult TED patients (30 US, 34 India) with active disease.
• Data collected included clinical measurements, thyroid history, ocular symptoms, quality of life, and clinical activity score (CAS) at baseline and 3 months.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in age, TED duration, or smoking status were observed.
• US patients were predominantly female with a history of hyperthyroidism, while Indian patients showed a more varied thyroid disease profile.
• Mean CAS was significantly higher in the US cohort (4.2) compared to the Indian cohort (1.65), despite similar frequencies of subjective TED symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in TED clinical activity scores between US and Indian patients were noted.
• Further research is needed to explore underlying factors contributing to these observed disparities in TED presentation and pathogenesis.