Management of thyroid disorders during the COVID-19 outbreak: a position statement from the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM)

ABSTRACT This position statement was prepared to guide endocrinologists on the best approach to managing thyroid disorders during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The most frequent thyroid hormonal findings in patients with COVID-19, particularly in individuals with severe disease, are similar to those present in the non-thyroidal illness syndrome and require no intervention. Subacute thyroiditis has also been reported during COVID-19 infection. Diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism during the COVID-19 pandemic may follow usual practice; however, should avoid frequent laboratory tests in patients with previous controlled disease. Well-controlled hypo and hyperthyroidism are not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severity. Newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism during the pandemic should be preferably treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), bearing in mind the possibility of rare side effects with these medications, particularly agranulocytosis, which requires immediate intervention. Definitive treatment of hyperthyroidism (radioiodine therapy or surgery) may be considered in those cases that protective protocols can be followed to avoid COVID-19 contamination or once the pandemic is over. In patients with moderate Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) not at risk of visual loss, glucocorticoids at immunosuppressive doses should be avoided, while in those with severe GO without COVID-19 and at risk of vision loss, intravenous glucocorticoid is the therapeutic choice. Considering that most of the thyroid cancer cases are low risk and associated with an excellent prognosis, surgical procedures could and should be postponed safely during the pandemic period. Additionally, when indicated, radioiodine therapy could also be safely postponed as long as it is possible.

Resultados del tratamiento de la orbitopatía tiroidea y factores que influyen sobre la respuesta terapéutica / Results of the treatment of thyroid orbinopathy and factors affecting the therapeutic response

Objetivo: evaluar los resultados del tratamiento de la orbitopatía tiroidea y determinar cuáles son los factores que influyen sobre ellos. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional en una cohorte de 82 pacientes con orbitopatía tiroidea, durante el período 1997-2009. Resultados: en los casos con orbitopatía tiroidea activa, la corticoterapia se inició a los 19 meses de evolución y no fue satisfactoria en la mayoría de ellos, por lo que para preservar la visión se realizaron varias intervenciones quirúrgicas. Los factores que influyeron sobre la respuesta terapéutica fueron el tabaquismo y la actividad de la orbitopatía tiroidea (OR= 30,479 y OR= 14,557, respectivamente). Se obtuvieron buenos resultados con el uso de la toxina botulínica A y con la cirugía en la corrección del estrabismo y la retracción. Conclusiones: el diagnóstico y el tratamiento precoz es la conducta terapéutica ideal para los pacientes con orbitopatía tiroidea. El tabaquismo y la actividad de la orbitopatía tiroideainterfirieren en la respuesta terapéutica. La toxina botulínica A y la cirugía son efectivas en la corrección del estrabismo y la retracción palpebral de la orbitopatía tiroidea(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the results of the treatment of thyroid orbinopathy and to determine the factors affecting them. Methods: observational study of a cohort of 82 patients with thyroid orbinopathy during the 1997-2009 period. Results: corticosteroid-bases therapy began nineteen months after the onset of disease and was unsatisfactory in most of cases with active thyroid orbitopathy, so it was necessary to perform several surgeries to preserve the vision. The influential factors on the therapeutic response were smoking and thyroid orbinopathy activity (OR= 30,479 and OR= 14,557, respectively). Good results were attained with botilinum toxin A and strabismus correction surgery and retraction. Conclusions: early diagnosis and treatment is the best therapy for patients with thyroid orbinopathy. Smoking and thyroid orbinopathy negatively affect the therapeutic response. Botulinum toxin A and surgery are effective options in the strabismus correction and palpebral retractions of thyroid orbinopathy(AU)

Thyroid associated orbitopathy.

Thyroid associated orbitopathy, also known as Graves’ orbitopathy, is typically a self-limiting autoimmune process associated with dysthyroid states. The clinical presentation may vary from very mild disease to severe irreversible sight-threatening complications. Despite ongoing basic science and clinical research, the pathogenesis and highly effective therapeutic strategies remain elusive. The present article reviews the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of this common, yet poorly understood disease, which remains a challenge to the ophthalmologist.

Color Doppler imaging of the superior ophthalmic vein in patients with Graves' orbitopathy before and after treatment of congestive disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare superior ophthalmic vein blood flow parameters measured with color Doppler imaging in patients with congestive Graves' orbitopathy before and after treatment and in normal controls. METHODS: Twenty-two orbits from 12 patients with Graves' orbitopathy in the congestive stage and 32 orbits from 16 normal controls underwent color Doppler imaging studies. Color Doppler imaging was repeated after treatment in the group of patients with Graves' orbitopathy, which included orbital decompression in 16 orbits and corticosteroids in six orbits. The findings for each group were compared. RESULTS: In the group of orbits with congestive disease, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected in 17 orbits (anteroposteriorally in 13 and in the opposite direction in four) and was undetectable in five. After treatment, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected and anteroposterior in 21 and undetected in one orbit. In normals, superior ophthalmic vein flow was detected anteroposterior in 29 orbits and undetectable in three orbits, indicating a significant difference between groups. There was also a significant difference between controls and congestive Graves' orbits and between congestive orbits before and after treatment, but not between controls and patients after treatment. A comparison of superior ophthalmic vein flow parameters revealed a significant difference between the groups. The superior ophthalmic vein flow was significantly reduced in the congestive stage compared with the flow parameters following treatment and in the untreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: Superior ophthalmic vein flow was significantly reduced in the orbits affected with congestive Graves' orbitopathy and returned to normal following treatment. Congestion appears to be a contributing pathogenic factor in the active inflammatory stage of Graves' orbitopathy.

Patogenia y tratamiento médico de la orbitopatía de graves / Pathogenesis and medical treatment of graves' orbitopathy

La Orbitopatía de Graves se presenta clínicamente en aproximadamente 50 por ciento de los casos de Enfermedad de Graves. La mayoría de las veces es leve y sólo en menos del 5 por ciento pone en riesgo la visión, pese a lo cual deteriora significativamente la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Hasta el momento no se conoce totalmente la patogenia, siendo posiblemente el receptor de TSH el blanco de la autoinmunidad. En cuanto al tratamiento, las medidas preventivas como lograr el eutiroidismo y la suspensión del tabaco son útiles en los distintos grados de la enfermedad. Para los casos más severos se han investigado diferentes medicamentos pero ninguno ha demostrado ser superior a los Glucocorticoides. Actualmente los consensos concuerdan en que es imprescindible clasificar al paciente según grado de actividad y severidad para orientar la terapia con mayor eficacia. Las investigaciones en curso pretenden encontrar una droga que supere el rendimiento existente

Graves' orbitopathy occurs clinically in approximately 50 percent of Graves' Disease. Most often it is mild and only less than 5 percent can threaten vision, despite which it significantly impairs the quality of life of this patients. So far its pathogenesis is not completely understood, but possibly TSH receptor is the target of autoimmunity. In relation to treatment, preventive measures such as achieving euthyroidism and the suspension of tobacco are useful in varying degrees of the disease. For more severe cases, different drugs have been investigated but none has shown superior efficacy to that of Glucocorticoids. Currently, different consensus agrees that it is essential to classify the patient according to levels of activity and severity to guide therapy more effectively. Ongoing investigations aim to find a drug that exceeds the existing performance