[Use of plasmapheresis in a case of Graves' disease with malignant ophthalmopathy (author's transl)].
A short trial with high doses of prednisolone to treat a 62 year-old woman with malignant ophthalmopathy due to Graves disease yielded an unsatisfactory improvement after 5-6 days. The authors decided therefore to use plasmapheresis, 4 plasma exchanges of 2.5 liters each associated with prednisolone (80 ng/day) and azathioprine (100 mg/day). This therapeutic approach resulted in a spectacular improvement obtained after less than 2 weeks: normalization of thyroid function, improvement of all ophthalmological indices confirmed by radiology (C.A.T.) of the retroocular region. The rapid and important improvement obtained after such a short period of time is in favor or the major role of plasmapheresis in this combined therapy of malignant Graves' ophthalmopathy.
D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests
D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine
Exophtalmie maligne traitée par échange plasmatique. Rapport d'un cas.