[Short-term efficacies of intravenous glucocorticoid therapy for moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of intravenous glucocorticoid therapy with or without orbital radiotherapy for moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy.

METHODS

A total of 83 patients with moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy were retrospectively analyzed. Intravenous glucocorticoid was given to patients for 3 consecutive days every four weeks in 1-3 circles. The regimens included intravenous glucocorticoid alone (n = 36) and intravenous glucocorticoid plus orbital radiotherapy (n = 47). Photophobia, lacrimation, eye pain, soft tissue congestion, edema, exophthalmos and diplopia were compared before and after treatment. The symptoms and efficacies were compared between two groups.

RESULTS

During a 12-week follow-up, clinical activity score (CAS), exophthalmos and diplopia all improved after treatment (P < 0.05). However, the changes of CAS, exophthalmos or diplopia showed no inter-group differences (P > 0.05). The overall clinical response was 50% in glucocorticoid group and 63.8% in glucocorticoid plus orbital radiotherapy group. And there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy may be relieved by pulsed intravenous glucocorticoid with or without orbital radiotherapy. There is no inter-group difference in short-term efficacies.