Ocular surface evaluation in pediatric Hashimoto's thyroiditis without thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy / Avaliação da superfície ocular na tireoidite de Hashimoto pediátrica sem oftalmopatia associada à tireoide

ABSTRACT Purpose: We aimed to assess ocular surface characteristics in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis without thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and compare the results with those of healthy children. Methods: Twenty-two children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (Group 1) and 20 healthy children without any ocular and/or systemic disorder (Group 2) were enrolled in the study. Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear film osmolarity measurement (TearLab Osmolarity System, San Diego, CA, USA), Schirmer and tear film breakup time tests, meibography, and conjunctival brush cytology were performed and compared the results between the groups. Results: The study group included 19 girls and 3 boys in Group 1 and 12 girls and 8 boys in Group 2 (p=0.081). Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy was not identified in any of the patients. Mean tear film osmolarity was 310.23 ± 11.98 mOsm/l in Group 1 and 313.60 ± 15.03 mOsm/l in Group 2 (p=0.424). Mean Schirmer test score was lower in Group 1 (14.91 ± 6.27) compared with Group 2 (23.60 ± 5.63) (p=0.001). Mean tear film breakup time was lower in Group 1 (11.78 ± 4.07) compared with Group 2 (15.1 ± 1.6) (p=0.013). Moreover, mean meibomian gland area loss was 25.01% ± 10.04% in Group 1 and 16.54% ± 6.02% in Group 2 (p=0.002). Conjunctival cytologic analysis in Group 1 revealed grade 0 changes in 6 patients (27.3%), grade 1 changes in 14 patients (63.6%), and grade 2 changes in 2 patients (9.1%), whereas 18 patients (90%) had grade 0 changes and 2 patients (10%) had grade 1 changes (p=0.001) in Group 2. Conclusions: The study demonstrates several ocular surface changes in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These findings may indicate a tendency for dry eye in pediatric Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients without clinical evidence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as características da superfície ocular em crianças com tireoidite de Hashimoto sem oftalmopatia associada à tireoide e comparar os resultados com aqueles de crianças saudáveis. Métodos: Vinte e duas crianças com tireoidite de Hashimoto (Grupo 1) e 20 crianças saudáveis sem qualquer distúrbio ocular e/ou sistêmico (Grupo 2) participaram do estudo. Utilizou-se o questionário Índice da Doença da Superfície Ocular, medida de osmolaridade do filme lacrimal (Tearlab Osmolarity System, San Diego, CA, EUA), teste de Schirmer e tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, meibografia e citologia do raspado conjuntival e comparação dos resultados entre os grupos. Resultados: O grupo de estudo incluiu 19 meninas e 3 meninos no Grupo 1 e 12 meninas e 8 meninos no Grupo 2 (p=0,081). A oftalmopatia associada à tireoide não foi identificada em nenhum dos pacientes. A média da osmolari­dade do filme lacrimal foi 310,23 ± 11,98 mOsm/l no Grupo 1 e 313,60 ± 15,03 mOsm/l no Grupo 2 (p=0,424). A média do escore do teste de Schirmer foi menor no Grupo 1 (14,91 ± 6,27) do que no Grupo 2 (23,60 ± 5,63) (p=0,001). A média do tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal foi menor no Grupo 1 (11,78 ± 4,07) em comparação com o Grupo 2 (15,1 ± 1,6) (p=0,013). Além disso, a média da perda de área da glândula meibomiana foi 25,01% ± 10,04% no Grupo 1 e 16,54% ± 6,02% no Grupo 2 (p=0,002). A análise da citologia conjuntival no Grupo 1 revelou alterações de grau 0 em 6 pacientes (27,3%), alterações de grau 1 em 14 pacientes (63,6%) e alterações de grau 2 em 2 pacientes (9,1%), enquanto 18 pacientes (90%) com alteração de grau 0 e 2 pacientes (10%) com alteração de grau 1 (p=0,001) no Grupo 2. Conclusões: O estudo demonstra várias alterações da superfície ocular em crianças com tireoidite de Hashimoto. Esses achados podem indicar uma tendência para olho seco em pacientes pediátricos com tireoidite de Hashimoto, sem evidências clínicas de oftalmopatia associada à tireoide.

Ocular surface evaluation in pediatric Hashimoto's thyroiditis without thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess ocular surface characteristics in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis without thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and compare the results with those of healthy children. METHODS: Twenty-two children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (Group 1) and 20 healthy children without any ocular and/or systemic disorder (Group 2) were enrolled in the study. Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, tear film osmolarity measurement (TearLab Osmolarity System, San Diego, CA, USA), Schirmer and tear film breakup time tests, meibography, and conjunctival brush cytology were performed and compared the results between the groups. RESULTS: The study group included 19 girls and 3 boys in Group 1 and 12 girls and 8 boys in Group 2 (p=0.081). Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy was not identified in any of the patients. Mean tear film osmolarity was 310.23 ± 11.98 mOsm/l in Group 1 and 313.60 ± 15.03 mOsm/l in Group 2 (p=0.424). Mean Schirmer test score was lower in Group 1 (14.91 ± 6.27) compared with Group 2 (23.60 ± 5.63) (p=0.001). Mean tear film breakup time was lower in Group 1 (11.78 ± 4.07) compared with Group 2 (15.1 ± 1.6) (p=0.013). Moreover, mean meibomian gland area loss was 25.01% ± 10.04% in Group 1 and 16.54% ± 6.02% in Group 2 (p=0.002). Conjunctival cytologic analysis in Group 1 revealed grade 0 changes in 6 patients (27.3%), grade 1 changes in 14 patients (63.6%), and grade 2 changes in 2 patients (9.1%), whereas 18 patients (90%) had grade 0 changes and 2 patients (10%) had grade 1 changes (p=0.001) in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates several ocular surface changes in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These findings may indicate a tendency for dry eye in pediatric Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients without clinical evidence of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.