Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: The Role of Thyroid Cross Reacting Autoantigens and The Effect of Thyroid Ablation

The pathogenesis and the treatment of Graves’ Ophthalmopathy (GO), the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease, are still debated [reviewed in1]. Although associated with Graves’ hyperthyroidism in most patients, GO may also occur with euthyroidism or hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (“euthyroid Graves’ disease”). GO precedes, occurs simultaneously with or follows hyperthyroidism in 13%, 43% and 44% of patients, respectively.2 The time interval between the beginning of GO and the onset of hyperthyroidism is 18 months in 85% of patients.2