Demography, clinical presentation and management of thyroid orbitopathy: A prospective interventional cohort study at a regional institute of ophthalmology in Western India:

Introduction

Thyroid orbitopathy or Graves ’ orbitopathy has been known since almost two centuries with the ocular changes associated with thyroid disease being first published by Graves in 1835.1

It is the most common cause of unilateral or bilateral proptosis in adults. Graves orbitopathy usually occurs in association with hyperthyroidism however in a few cases normal thyroid function or even hypothyroidism/ autoimmune thyroiditis may be seen in some patients with typical features of Graves orbitopathy.1

Thyroid associated Orbitopathy (Graves orbitopathy) can be an extremely disabling disease with effects on visual function and psychosocial wellbeing of the patient. The disea se involves both humoral and cellular components of the immune mechanism with the extraocular muscles and orbital fat(connective tissue) being the target structures.1 It presents clinically as lid retraction, exophthalmos, extraocular muscle involvement, optic neuropathy and inflammation.1

These patients require timely diagnosis, careful evaluation and lifelong care. Management includes documenting and treating thyroid dysfunction .Thyroid ophthalmopathy is managed via supportive treatment, immunosupression and surgery.1

The 2016 European Thyroid Association /European Group on Grave’s Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) recently put forward guidelines for the management of Graves Orbitopathy.2 A patient focused approach to the disease has been put forward encompassing the effect of the disease on the quality of life and psychosocial well being of the patient.

They recommended a thorough assessment of the activity and severity of Graves orbitopathy and its effect on the quality of life of the patient. Control of thyroid dysfunction, stopping smoking and supportive measures as lubricants, dark glasses were recommended for all patients. Mild disease could be subjected to masterly observation. A new recommendation is the use of antioxidant selenium as a six month course as it has been seen to improve the mild manifestations of the disease and prevent its progression to more severe forms.2

Moderate-severe and active graves orbitopathy is recommended treatment with intravenous glucocorticoids as the first line of management.3,4,5 Oral route for glucocorticoids has been used for long though steroid side effects have been a cause of concern. The recent studies suggest that glucocorticoids by the intravenous route have less side effects as compared to oral steroids and at the same time are more efficacious.3,4,5 Hence the recent recommendations.6,7

The second line of management would be another course of the same or oral glucocorticoids alone or in combination with radiotherapy or cyclosporine, rituximab as per analysis, team decision and individualization. Rehabilitative surgery would be reserved for patients managed conservatively and where the disease has been rendered inactive by immunosuppressive agents.2

In the light of the newer and emerging changing scenario in the management of Thyroid orbitopathy (Graves orbitopathy), we designed a study to document the demography, clinical presentation including activity and severity along with the management of Thyroid orbitopathy as per the new guidelines at our regional institute of ophthalmology in western India.

Aim

The study aims at documenting the demography, clinical presentation including activity and severity along with the management of Thyroid Orbitopathy as per the new guidelines at our regional institute of ophthalmology in western India.

Materials and Methods

The study design was a prospective interventional study in an institutional cohort. Ethical clearance was taken from the institutional ethics committee. The study was carried out over a period two years from August 2017 to October 2019. Thirty five consecutive cases (direct and referral) of Thyroid Orbitopathy seen at the oculoplastics and ocular oncology clinic of our western regional institute of ophthalmology were studied. Informed consent was taken from all the patients for study enrolment.

History of the onset, duration and course of the ophthalmic symptoms was elicited as pain, grittiness, diminution of vision. History of the thyroid dysfunction and treatments taken (if any) was documented. A personal history of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, family history of graves orbitopathy and any other systemic or ocular disease were elicited.

Clinical examination included best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundus examination, intraocular pressure recording. Ocular movements and evaluation for presence of strabismus was done. Force duction test was used to diagnose restrictive myopathy. A positive test was seen in restrictive strabismus due to thyroid myopathy. Colour vision, visual field charting, afferent puillary defect and swelling or pallore of the optic nerve head on fundoscopy were used as an adjunct to diagnose dysthyroid optic neuropathy.

Exophthalmometry readings were obtained using a Hertel’s exophthalmometer.

A GO-QOL (Grave’s Orbitopathy – quality of life) questionnaire as put forth by the EUGOGO was used to assess the quality of life of the patients. The GO-QOL questionnaire has two subscales visual functioning and appearance. Each subscale contains eight items. Each item is scored as 3-severely limited/affected, 2-a little, 1-not at all.1

The severity of the Graves orbitopathy (GO) was classified as mild, moderate-severe and sight threatening (very severe) as per the EUGOGO guidelines.2 Mild disease was defined as patients whose features of GO have only a minor impact on daily life insufficient to justify immunosupressives or surgery. They usually have one or more of the following: minor lid retraction (<2mm), mild soft tissue involvement, exophthalmos<3mm above normal for race, gender, no or intermittent diplopia and corneal exposure responsive to lubricants.2

Moderate-to-Severe GO was defined as patients without sight threatening GO whose eye disease has sufficient impact on daily life to justify the risks of immunosupression (if active) or surgical intervention (if inactive).They usually have two or more of the following: lid retraction>/= 2mm, moderate or severe soft tissue involvement ,or exophthalmos>/= 3mm above normal for race and gender, constant or inconstant diplopia.2

Sight threatening GO (very severe) was defined as patients with DON (dysthyroid optic neuropathy) and /or corneal breakdown.2

Clinical activity score was used to classify the disease as active or quiescent. The score has one point for each of seven manifestations that include: 1)Spontaneous retrobulabar pain 2)Pain on attempted upward or downward gaze 3) Eyelid redness 4) Conjunctival redness 5)Swelling of caruncle/plica 6)Swelling of eyelids 7)Swelling of conjunctiva (chemosis). A score of < 3 would define the disease as inactive and a score of >/= 3 was used to signify active disease.2

Thyroid dysfunction was documented by serum free T3, serum free T4 and serum thyroid stimulating hormone assays. A fasting blood sugar was done to rule out associated diabetes mellitus.

Imaging studies included ultrasonography B scan and computerized tomography scan of the both orbits. Thyroid orbitopathy was documented as an extraocular muscle thickening (sparing the tendons). Computed tomographic scan additionally documents exophthalmos, increased orbital soft / connective, crowding of orbital apex. The latter is an additional tel tale sign of dysthyroid optic neuropathy.

Thyroid dysfunction was treated as per protocol with anti thyroid agents, thyroidectomy and radiiodine.

All patients with thyroid orbitopathy were reassured and counselled regarding the nature of the disease. All patients were urged to stop smoking (both active and passive). Head elevation at night time and cold compresses were advised to reduce eyelid and orbital swelling. Ocular lubrication with non preserved lubricants was given for ocular surface dryness/ disorder. Dark glasses too helped in the latter condition. Antioxidant therapy with selenium (100 micrgram twice daily) was prescribed for six months.

Sight threatening optic neuropathy was treated with intravenous pulse glucocorticoid therapy as the first line of management. Very high doses of intravenous glucocorticoids were used. This included 0.5 to 1 gram of methylprednisolone on three consecutive days/alternate days for a week to be repeated the next week if needed. Orbital decompression surgery was done if there was no improvement in two weeks.

Sight threatening keratopathy was managed as per the protocol for treatment of keratopathy.

Patients with moderate –to- severe and active ophthalmopathy were treated with intravenous st eroids. Intravenous steroids were given as a pulse therapy i.e. 6 weekly infusions of 0.5 grams methylprednisolone followed by 6 weekly infusions of 0.25 grams amounting to a cumulative dose of 4.5 gram of methylprednisolone. The cumulative intravenous dose was not allowed to exceed 8 grams.

The second line of treatment in patients with active Graves ophthalmopathy unresponsive to intravenous steroids or in those patients with intolerable side effects of iv steroids includes oral glucocorticoids alone or in combination with orbital radiotherapy in a dose of 20Gy per orbit in 10 fractions over 2 weeks. Cyclosporine in an initial dose of 5 mg/kg body weight per day combined with oral glucocoticoids in a starting dose of 100 mg per day followed by tapering for three months.

Rehabilitative or cosmetic surgery was done when the disease had been inactive for a minimum of six months. The order of the surgery was orbital surgical procedures followed by squint correction followed by eyelid surgery.

Observations and Results

Table 1,Table 2,Table 3,Table 4,Table 5,Table 6 document the observations of our study. The age range was twelve years to seventy years. The maximum incidence was seen in the age group of thirty five to fifty five years (68.57 %). It was more common in females (female: male ratio was 4:3).

The most common clinical presentation was eyelid retraction (91.43%) followed by exophthalmos (77.14%). The patients had the whole spectra of the ophthalmopathy from mild(65.72%), moderate-to-severe(25.71%) to sight threatening ophthalmopathy (8.57%)though the latter cases were few. The disease activity was both active (31.43%) and quiescent (68.57%) with the latter dominating the scenario. The patients had the risk factors of active and passive smoke (45.71%) as well as thyroid dysfunction (97.14%). As many as 48.57% patients reported that thyroid orbitopathy affected their daily visual activities and /or were unhappy with their appearance.

The patients were successfully managed as per the recent proposed updated guidelines of management of the disorder both medically as well as surgically. Patient counselling, ocular lubrication, ocular protective glasses, refraining from smoking and control of thyroid dysfunction were the cornerstones of the management in all patients. Steroids were the most effective in suppressing the immune response of thyroid orbitopathy with intravenous glucocorticoids being used in almost a quarter of our patients (25.71%). This included three patients with dysthyroid optic neuropathy and six patients with moderate-to-severe and active disease with optimal results. In addition oral glucocorticoids were also given in eight patients as an alternative/ second line therapy.

Surgical procedures done included an urgent bilateral lateral orbital wall decompression in a patient with sight threatening keratopathy and dysthyroid optic neuropathy with suboptimal response to intravenous glucocorticoid therapy after two weeks. Three patients in the quiescent stage underwent a corrective strabismus surgery. Lid lengthening was done in five patients with quiescent orbitopthy to improve appearance and conserve the ocular surface. This included muller muscle/ levator weakening with or without a spacer donor sclera graft.

Table 1,Table 2,Table 3,Table 4,Table 5,Table 6 representation of the age distribution, gender distribution, severity assessment and the common clinical manifestations of thyroid orbitopathy patients seen in our study.

Figures showcase some of the patients of thyroid orbitopathy seen at our institute during the course of the study.

Figure 1

: A 57 year old male ,smoker patient with asymmetrical dysthyroid ophthalmopathy: Note the exophthalmos, lid retraction and conjunctival congestion more pronounced in the right (OD) eye. Active, sight threatening Graves ophthalmopathy

Figure 2

Axial computed tomography scan of the same patient with Thyroid Orbitopathy: Note the right eye proptosis, extra ocularmuscle thickening with sparing of the tendons

Figure 3

Coronal view of computed tomography scan of the above patient with Thyroid Orbitopathy: Note the extraocular muscle thickening more pronounced in the right (OD) eye. Also note the more pronounced thickening of the inferior and medial rectus as compared to the superior and lateral rectus(OD)

Figure 4

Coronal computed tomography scan of the samepatient at the orbital apex. Note the apical crowding in the right eye due toextraocular muscle thickening with fat plane obliteration. The patient had decreasedvision in the right eye due to optic nerve compression.

Figure 5

A 12 year old girl with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy: Note the bilateral eyelid retraction (both upper and lower eyelids) and bulbar conjunctival congestion. The patient has mild and active disease.

Figure 6

The same patient with photograph in the left lateral gaze showing bulbar conjunctival congestion more pronounced at the insertion of the recti

Figure 7

A 45 year old male with Thyroid Orbitopathy: Note the bilateral eyelid retraction (both upper and lower eyelids), bilateral exophthalmos, mild conjuctival congestion and strabismus. The patients had moderate-to-severe, quiescent disease.

Figure 8

A 38 year old lady with Thyroid Orbitopathy: Note the bilateral lid edema and conjunctival congestion: Mild and active thyroid ophthalmopathy

Figure 9

A 63 year old lady with Thyroid Orbitopathy. Note the bilateral eyelid retraction, bilateral eyelid swelling, proptosis and strabismus more pronounced in the left (OS) eye. She had complaint of ocular pain. Moderate-to-severe active thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Figure 10

The same patient with bilateral lid lag on downgaze. Lid retraction and lid lag are characteristic signs of Thyroid Orbitopathy

Figure 11

The same patient showing restricted elevation due to the fibrous inferior rectus

Figure 12

The same patient showing restricted eye movements in levodepression due to fibrous superior rectus

Figure 13

The above patient with restricted eye movement son dextrodepression due to fibrous superior rectus

Figure 14

A 70 year old male smoker with thyroid ophthalmopathy: Note the bilateral exophthalmos, bilateral eyelid retraction, lid swelling, conjunctival congestion, strabismus, relative afferent papillary defect in the right eye due to dysthyroid optic neuropathy: Moderate-to severe and active thyroid ophthalmopathy

Figure 15

The same patient showing lid lag on downgaze

Figure 16

Restrive myopathy in the above patient with very few ocular movements preserved. The patient’s head has been stabilized as the patient reflexly moves his head when asked to see in a particular direction due to restriction of ocular movements in that direction

Figure 17

Ultrasonography b scan of the above patient showing a markedly thick inferior rectus belly with tendon sparing

Figure 18

A 25 year old girl with hyperthyroidism and thyroid ophthalmopathy: note the bilateral eyelid retraction with left eye mildexophthalmos: Mild, quiescent thyroid ophthalmopathy.

Figure 19

The same girl with defective convergence

Figure 20

A 57 year old male smoker with moderate-to-sever and active thyroid orbitopathy. Note the bilateral eyelid swelling, conjunctival redness, eyelid retraction, exophthalmos. The patients had spontaneous retrobulabar pain

Figure 21

Extraocular muscle thickening (OD) of the above patient on B scan ultrasonography

Figure 22

Extracocular muscle thickening of the same patient on B scan ultrasonography(OS).

Discussion

The current study showcases the demography, clinical presentation and management of Thyroid orbitopathy patients at a regional Institute of ophthalmology in western India.

Thyroid orbitopathy showed a wide age distribution. The age range was twelve years to seventy years. The maximum incidence was seen in the age group of thirty five to fifty five years (68.57 %). It was more common in females (female : male ratio was 4:3).

The most common clinical presentation was eyelid retraction (91.43%) followed by exophthalmos (77.14%). The patients had the whole spectra of the ophthalmopathy from mild (65.72%), moderate-to-severe(25.71%)to sight threatening ophthalmopathy (8.57%) though the latter cases were few. The disease activity was both active(31.43%) and quiescent (68.57%)with the latter dominating the scenario. The patients had the risk factors of active and passive smoke (45.71%) as well as thyroid dysfunction (97.14%).

The patients were successfully managed as per the recent proposed updated guidelines of management of the disorder both medically as well as surgically. The results as documented above are similar to recent studies conducted across the globe some of which are noted below.

Reddy SVB et al reported the prevalence of Grave’s ophthalmopathy in patients with Graves disease.8 The study was done at a referral centre in North India. They diagnosed Graves ophthalmopathy in 65 out of 235 patients of Graves disease. Prevalence was similar in males (28%) and females(27%). Graves ophthalmopathy was mild in 83% of cases, moderate-severe in 15% and sight threatening in 2% of cases. The disease was clinically active in only two (3%) of cases. The presenting clinical fatures were eyelid retraction (83%), exophthalmos(75%), myopathy of the extraocular muscles(5%) and optic nerve dysfunction in 2% cases. The risk factors identified were smoking and raised thyrotropin receptor antibody level.8

Ackuaku-Dogbe EM, Akpalu J, Abaidoo B reported the epidemiology and clinical features of Thyroid-associated orbitopathy in Accra (Middle East Africa).9 They reported 194 patients with thyroid disorder. 117(60.3%) patients had Thyroid orbitopathy. Mean age of the patients was 45.22 years. The male:female ratio was 1:4. The most common symptoms were bulging eyes (65%) and puffy eyelids (33%). The most common signs were eyelid retraction (82.9%) and proptosis (68.38%). Mild Thyroid Orbitopathy was reported in 64.96% of cases and sever e in 6.84% cases. The study concluded that the findings are similar to that in other parts of the world but the ophthalmic presentation was milder than in Caucasians.9

A previous study from our institute documented patients with thyroid orbitopathy.10 The study provided insights into the mammoth task of the management of this complex disorder in our part of the earth.

Other researchers from across the globe as Bartley GB, Jankauskeine J and Marcocci C have also documented the epidemiology, demography, clinical characteristics, treatment of thyroid orbitopathy in their original studies.11,12,13,14,15,16 Their research complements the available literature of this grave thyroid orbitopathy. The studies have results similar to our study though subtle regional differences in demography and clinical presentations exist.

Conclusion

We present the demography, clinical mani festations and management of thirty five consecutive cases of thyroid orbitopathy seen at a regional institute of o phthalmology in western India. Our study complements the available world literature on thyroid orbitopathy and presents thyroid orbitopathy from the unique perspective of western India. Notwithstanding the diverse manifestations of the disease and its equally diverse treatment strategies, the study corroborates the current management strategies of this complex disorder.

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge the immense support of the Director, Head of department Ocular Oncology and Oculoplastics, the staff and patients of M&J western regional Institute of Ophthalmology. I also acknowledge the immense help received from the scholars whose articles are cited and included in references of this manuscript as well as the authors/editors/publishers of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.

Ethical clearance

Taken

Informed consent

Taken

Conflict of interest

None

Source of funding

None