The Influence of Juvenile Graves' Ophthalmopathy on Graves' Disease Course.

PURPOSE: To investigate juvenile Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) signs and compare Graves' disease (GD) course in patients with or without GO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were analyzed data (visual acuity, proptosis, palpebral fissure measurements, clinical activity score (CAS), and the course of GD) of 67 children who have been newly diagnosed with GD. 26.9% of patients with GD had signs of ophthalmopathy (GO+), and 73.1% were without ophthalmopathy (GO-).

RESULTS: Upper eyelid retraction (72.3%), proptosis (66.7%), and soft tissue changes (27.8-38.9%) were in GO+ patients. The palpebral fissure, CAS, and proptosis values were greater in the GO+ group than in the GO- group ( p < 0.001). GD course in GO+ patients was longer than that in GO- patients ( p < 0.001). The duration of the first remission was longer in GO- than in GO+ patients ( p < 0.001). The duration of first remission was longer than one year for 61.2% in GO- and 33.3% in GO+ patients ( p < 0.02).

CONCLUSION: The common manifestations of juvenile GO patients were upper eyelid retraction, proptosis, and soft tissue involvement. The study demonstrates that pediatric patients with GO are more likely to have a severe course of autoimmune thyroid disease.