Smoking delays, reduces response to therapy in thyroid ophthalmopathy

Patients who smoke show a delayed and reduced response to treatment for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, according to a study in Germany.

Anja Eckstein, MD, and colleagues at the University of Essen studied 41 smokers and 19 nonsmokers, all with moderate untreated thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. All patients underwent steroid treatment and, 6 weeks after beginning therapy, orbital irradiation.

There was no difference in the clinical manifestations of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy between smokers and nonsmokers at the beginning of the study. Clinical activity scores and motility improved significantly faster and to a greater extent in nonsmokers than smokers.

The study is published in the June issue of British Journal of Ophthalmology.