title: [Corticosteroids and radiotherapy in the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy].
abstract: Graves' ophthalmopathy is a debilitating disease impairing the quality of life of affected individuals. The management of moderate-to-severe active Graves' ophthalmopathy is a major therapeutic challenge, and the treatment outcome is often unsatisfactory. We have carried out a retrospective study to assess the efficacy of combined orbital irradiation and systemic corticosteroids. Ten patients were included; all patients had received 20 Grays to the retrobulbar tissues in ten fractions, and oral or intravenous glucocorticoids. The main therapeutic outcome measures were the criteria of Donaldson and co-workers and a self-assessment evaluation. The quality of life outcome was also evaluated by the GO-QOL (Graves' ophthalmopathy quality of life) questionnaire. Seven patients (70%) demonstrated improvement in ocular parameters; the response was excellent in three cases, good in three cases and fair in one case. Three patients showed no response to the treatment. The self-assessment evaluation showed that 75% of patients were satisfied with the results of the treatment. Proptosis was the most responsive sign to radiation and steroids. A duration of the eye disease of more than 18 months was associated with less improvement and a higher failure of the treatment. Concerning the quality of life, the score for visual fonctionning was 882 +/- 18.2 after treatment, while the score for appearance was 63.3 +/- 23.3. In conclusion, a combination of orbital irradiation and systemic steroids is associated with 70% of favorable responses, but the quality of life is not restored in the same proportions and remains impaired after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de Radiothérapie, CHU Hôtel-Dieu de France, Beyrouth, Liban. nasre@inco.com.lb
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.forename: Sherine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khater
authors.forename: Dolly
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nehme-Nasr
authors.forename: Fares
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azoury
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jambart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone