Extraocular muscle repositioning as the last therapeutic option for a patient with a severe course of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: a case report

摘要

BackgroundGraves’ disease is a common autoimmune inflammatory condition of the thyroid. About one in four of affected patients also develop orbital symptoms like exophthalmos, proptosis and diplopia - called Graves’ Ophthalmopathy. Not all patients respond well to the standard therapy of systemic glucocorticoid administration. The inflammatory swelling of the intraorbital muscles can lead to pressure-induced damage of the optic nerve.Orbital decompression surgery is a therapeutic option for these patients with varying success. Other symptoms like the extreme malposition of the ocular globe are poorly addressed by decompression surgery and demand for different therapeutic approaches.