[Endocrine orbitopathy. Results of therapy in patients with reference to new pathogenetic aspects]

Present available conservative methods of treatment were evaluated in 148 patients with euthyroid endocrine ophthalmopathy. Levothyroxine was used as the basic drug in confirming normal thyroid function after goitre operation or radio-iodine therapy. In addition, prednisone was used, at first in a massive single dose and then alternating daily. Retrobulbar X-radiation was additionally given to 21 patients. Besides, 47 patients also received a lymphokinetic drug (Venalot-Depot) assuming the endocrine eye symptoms are manifestations of "local myxoedema". No single drug was found to be superior to any of the others but a combination can be successful as long as the period between manifestation of the eye symptoms and onset of treatment has not been more than two years.