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Octreotide therapy is not beneficial in patients with Graves’ eye disease
The background of the study. Graves’ eye
disease is characterized by inflammation of the adipose tissue and
muscles of the eye. This study evaluated the effects of octreotide,
a substance that can reduce cellular reactions in several tissues,
in patients with ophthalmopathy.
How the study was done. The study compared the effects of long-acting octreotide (octreotide-LAR) and placebo in 50 patients with active Graves’ eye disease, as defined by the presence of inflammation of adipose and muscle tissue of the eye. All had normal thyroid function when enrolled in the study.
The patients were given 30 mg of octreotide-LAR or placebo intramuscularly every four weeks for 16 weeks (phase 1). All were then given octreotide-LAR for 16 weeks (phase 2), and finally all were followed without therapy for 24 weeks (phase 3). The severity of eye disease was assessed periodically during the 56-week study.
The results of the study. During phase 1, the eye disease improved slightly in both groups, with slightly more improvement in the octreotide-LAR group. The patients in both groups reported decreases in symptoms and increases in quality of life, but there were no differences between the groups.
During phase 2, when both groups received octreotide-LAR, there was little change in any measure of the eye disease. During phase 3, when no treatment was given, there was slight improvement in both groups. Overall, the eye disease decreased similarly from base line in both groups, and the patients in both groups continued to report improvement throughout the study, but there were no differences between the groups.
The conclusions of the study. Treatment with octreotide-LAR for 16 weeks has little benefit in patients with moderately severe Graves’ eye disease.
The original article. Dickinson AJ, Vaidya B,
Miller M, Coulthard A, Perros P, Baister E, Andrews CD, Hesse L,
Heverhagen JT, Heufelder AE, Kendall-Taylor P. Double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial of octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) in thyroid-associated
ophthalmopathy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:5910-5.
Next Article: Hypothyroidism rarely
contributes to the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation
in patients with lung disease |
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| Thyroid Digest Index | | | March 2005 Thyroid Digest |
