title: [Endocrine orbitopathy 1998].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ophthalmopathy is the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves' disease, also called thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.
  This autoimmune disorder is characterized by a lymphocyte infiltration of the retrobulbar space. Activated T cells react with the target organ and secrete cytokines, leading to accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, interstitial edema of the peri- and retrobulbar tissue and enlargement of the extraocular muscles. During the inflammatory stage, the increased orbital pressure results in the clinical manifestation of the eye disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thus, therapeutic immunosuppression is often used initially, and by suppressing inflammatory changes, it can result in subjective and objective improvement of the thyroid eye disease. In recent years, new pathogenetic aspects and clinical randomized trials led to modified therapy concepts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interdisciplinary management is recommended for rapid diagnosis and effective therapy of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik Innere Medizin, Schwerpunkt Endokrinologie und Stoffwechselerkrankungen, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Förster
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kahaly
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
vernacular_title: Endokrine Orbitopathie 1998.