Pathogenesis of Graves' Ophthalmopathy

MOST physicians treat patients with hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease with either an antithyroid drug or radioactive iodine (iodine-131). Which treatment the physician recommends is based on factors such as the patient's age, the risk of side effects or later thyroid dysfunction, and the likelihood of remission. The report by Tallstedt et al. in this issue of the Journal 1 addresses another factor — the risk of ophthalmopathy after the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Most patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism have some ophthalmopathy, if only a few millimeters of exophthalmos and radiologic evidence of enlarged extraocular muscles. What are the risk factors for . . .