Treatment of mild to moderate Graves' ophthalmopathy with sodium diclofenac: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To report the use of sodium diclofenac, an antagonist of PPAR-gamma and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor in the treatment of mild to moderate Graves' ophthalmopathy.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with clinical activity score (CAS) 2 to 7 were treated during a period ranging from 3 to 12 months (mean 7.8 ± 3.4) with oral sodium diclofenac, 50 mg every 12 hours.


RESULTS
Extra-ocular muscle restriction and CAS improved significantly, p = 0.003 and = 0.004, respectively. Ocular pain and diplopia disappeared, except for one patient who reported improvement of these symptoms. No recurrence was found after interruption of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of moderate Graves' ophthalmopathy with oral sodium diclofenac is a good, safe and less expensive therapeutic option. Like others new treatment trials, findings must be confirmed in a greater number of patients in a controlled study.
Graves' Ophthalmopathy Section, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. wbloise@uol.com.br
Walter
W
Bloise
Lidia Yuri
LY
Mimura
Janete
J
Moura
Wilian
W
Nicolau
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D004008:Diclofenac