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Changes of orbital tissue volumes and proptosis in patients with thyroid extraocular muscle swelling after methylprednisolone pulse therapy

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the changes of orbital tissue volumes and proptosis after methylprednisolone pulse therapy in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Methods

The cross-sectional areas of orbital tissues and proptosis were measured with magnetic resonance imaging in 40 orbits of 20 patients with TAO before and after methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The volumes of the whole orbit, orbital fatty tissue, and extraocular muscles were calculated. The volumes and proptosis were compared before and after treatment using a paired t test.

Results

Before treatment, the mean volumes were 33.0 ± 4.8 cm3 in the whole orbit, 19.9 ± 4.1 cm3 in the orbital fatty tissue, and 4.6 ± 1.2 cm3 in the total extraocular muscles. After treatment, the mean volumes were 32.5 ± 4.4 cm3 in the whole orbit, 19.9 ± 3.7 cm3 in the orbital fatty tissue, and 4.0 ± 1.0 cm3 in the total extraocular muscles. The mean volumes of the whole orbit (P = 0.17) and orbital fatty tissue (P = 0.82) were not significantly decreased after treatment, while the mean volume of total extraocular muscles was significantly decreased (P < 0.001). The mean proptosis value was 18.9 ± 2.8 mm before treatment and 18.6 ± 3.4 mm after treatment. The mean proptosis value was not significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.30).

Conclusions

The volume of orbital fatty tissue seemed to be unchanged after methylprednisolone pulse therapy while that of total extraocular muscles was decreased. The proptosis value seemed to be unchanged after treatment.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (#21592255) and a grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan

    Tomoaki Higashiyama & Masahito Ohji

  2. Clinical Medical Education Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan

    Yasuhiro Nishida

Authors
  1. Tomoaki Higashiyama
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  2. Yasuhiro Nishida
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  3. Masahito Ohji
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomoaki Higashiyama.

Ethics declarations

T. Higashiyama, Lecture fees (Senju Pharmaceutical); Y. Nishida, Lecture fees (Senju Pharmaceutical); M. Ohji, Lecture fees (Senju Pharmaceutical, Carl Zeiss Japan, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, MSD, Kowa Pharmaceutical, Alcon Japan, Novartis Pharmaceutical, Senju Pharmaceutical, Bayer, Shionogi & Co.), Consultant fees (Alcon Japan, Novartis Pharmaceutical, Santen Pharmaceutical, Bayer, Shionogi & CO., Pfizer Japan, Sanwa Kagaku Institute).

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Higashiyama, T., Nishida, Y. & Ohji, M. Changes of orbital tissue volumes and proptosis in patients with thyroid extraocular muscle swelling after methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Jpn J Ophthalmol 59, 430–435 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-015-0410-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-015-0410-4

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