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Once upon a time in Anatolia: the kings with bulging eyes

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Abstract

The Hittite Empire, formed by the Hittites who settled in central Anatolia at the beginning of the second millennium BC, has left behind rich archeological remains. In this historical review, statues of the Hittite priest-kings, King Idrimi, King Šuppiluliuma, and King Tarhunza, who ruled in these lands in ancient times, are analyzed. Graves’ disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Patients with GD are also at risk of developing Graves’ orbitopathy (GO). Upper eyelid retraction and exophthalmos (bulging eyes) are common in patients diagnosed with GO. Could the kings who lived in Anatolia at different times in the distant past have suffered from the same disease?

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  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey

    Hulya Elbe

  2. Department of Geriatrics, Institute of Health Sciences, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey

    Hulya Elbe

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Correspondence to Hulya Elbe.

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Elbe, H. Once upon a time in Anatolia: the kings with bulging eyes. Hormones (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-024-00561-y

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