Five articles to read for Graves’ disease awareness month

Oculoplastic surgeons have been frustrated watching their patients with thyroid eye disease in active phase and not having an FDA-approved drug to help, Roger A. Dailey, MD, FACS, told Healio.com/OSN.

“Sometimes steroids help, but those have side effects,” he said, and physicians have to wait until their patients develop problems before turning to a surgical solution.

Proptosis, lid retraction, double vision and photosensitivity can be disabling consequences of thyroid eye disease, he said, but there is a potential “game changer” under review by the FDA. Teprotumumab (Horizon Therapeutics) is an investigational thyroid eye disease treatment candidate that has succeeded in reducing proptosis, meeting its primary endpoint in phase 2 and 3 studies.

With the promise of a medical solution, the need for surgical solutions may diminish.

“I think we’ll see more medical treatment of thyroid eye disease early and less surgical treatment of thyroid eye disease late,” Dailey said.

In recognition of the American Thyroid Association designating July as Graves’ disease awareness month, Healio.com/OSN presents five articles highlighting advancements in treatment for thyroid eye disease.

Teprotumumab for treatment of thyroid eye disease meets endpoints in phase 3 study

Results from the phase 3 OPTIC study showed more patients treated with teprotumumab had a meaningful improvement in proptosis compared with those who received placebo. Read more.

Speaker: Maintain high suspicion for compressive optic neuropathy in thyroid eye disease

KOLOA, Hawaii — Compressive optic neuropathy is a finding of concern in patients with thyroid eye disease. Read more.

Adults with thyroid eye disease lack knowledge of ophthalmologic threats

Adults with thyroid eye disease or Graves’ disease without orbitopathy have greater understanding of thyroid eye disease than the general population, but still exhibit some knowledge gaps. Read more.

Statin therapy considered for thyroid eye disease

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Statins show promise as a low-risk disease-modifying agent for treating thyroid eye disease, for which smoking is seen as the only modifiable risk factor. Read more.

Esotropia, ductions worsened in patients undergoing decompression surgery Decompression surgery yielded worsening of both esotropia and ductions, according to a study. Read more.

Reference:

www.thyroid.org/graves-eye-disease

Disclosure: Dailey reports he is a member of the Horizon advisory board.