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Saw this on the Web and wanted to share it with all.
I was diagnosed in 1998 and the doc noticed early Opthal in me. It was one of the main reasons he suggested meds instead of iodine, advising that the radio iodine can cause thyroid storm which could negatively impact Opthal and make it worse. So that was what we did. It has been tricky trying to titrate meds but now many years later I am mostly comfortable and most important, my vital signs have been normal and stable since treatment got underway.
Hope the link proves useful
This is just one study, there are several newer ones, indicating total thyroidectomy has the most benefit for thyroid ophthalmopathy. This particular study does not find medical therapy to benefit Graves eye disease.
Surgeon. 2009 Oct;7(5):290-6.
Graves’ ophthalmopathy: the case for thyroid surgery.
Lowery AJ1, Kerin MJ.
Author informationAbstract
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is frequently complicated by ophthalmopathy, which can be a debilitating component of the disease, resulting in impaired quality of life. The management of Graves’ disease aims to restore the patient to a euthyroid state and minimise the extent of extrathyroidal manifestations such as ophthalmopathy. Management options include medical therapy, radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgical intervention in the form of thyroid resection. Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is often resistant to or even aggravated by medical therapy and RAI, both of which have unpredictable relapse rates. The extent of thyroidectomy in the management of benign thyroid disease remains controversial. Total thyroidectomy is being increasingly favoured as the procedure of choice for treatment of benign thyroid disease. Recent study has indicated that it can be performed with minimal complications at a rate comparable to the less radical subtotal thyroidectomy. The predictable outcome and lack ofdisease recurrence make it an attractive option for benign conditions such as Graves’ disease. In addition, there is increasing evidence that total thyroidectomy may have a beneficial effect, inducing an improvement in eye signs and symptoms in cases of GO. This review discusses the indications for surgical intervention in Graves’ disease, with specific focus on the extent of resection and the relative merits of subtotal and total thyroidectomy in patients with GO.This research out of Kellogg Eye Center also found that patients undergoing thyroidectomy had the best outcomes with the eye disease. (The finding regarding statins was a surprise and something that needs further study).
(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).
http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/news/14/thyroid-eye-disease.html
Of course, any surgery comes with risks, so this should be one of many factors considered when making a treatment decision.
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