Skip to content

Total Thyroidectomy Versus Thionamides in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Graves' Ophthalmopathy

Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial of Total Thyroidectomy (Tx) Versus Thionamides (Anti-Thyroid Drugs) in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Graves' Ophthalmopathy - a 1-year Follow-up

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03066076
Enrollment
60
Registered
2017-02-28
Start date
2017-03-01
Completion date
2019-06-01
Last updated
2017-02-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Graves Disease, Graves Ophthalmopathy, Graves' Ophthalmopathy Worsened

Brief summary

Introduction: Graves disease (GD) is characterized by thyrotoxicosis and goiter, arising through circulating autoantibodies that bind to and stimulate the thyroid hormone receptor (TSHR). Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is characterized by inflammation, expansion of the extraocular muscles and an increase in retroorbital fat. There are currently three forms of therapies offered: anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) (thionamides), radioactive iodine (RAI) and total thyroidectomy (Tx). There is currently no consensus on the treatment of Grave's disease and GO. Objective: To examine the difference in the outcome of GO in patients with moderate-to-severe GO, who receive Tx versus further ATD after suffering their first relapse of GO or in which GO stays the same following the initial decrease in ATD therapy after 6 months. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial with observer blinded analysis will analyze 60 patients with moderate-to-severe GO who receive Tx versus ATD without surgery. Main outcome variables include: muscle index measurements via ultrasound and thyroid antibody levels. Additional outcome variables include: CAScore/NOSPECS score, superonasal index measurements via ultrasound and quality of life score.

Detailed description

Introduction: Graves disease (GD) is characterized by thyrotoxicosis and goiter, arising through circulating autoantibodies that bind to and stimulate the thyroid hormone receptor (TSHR). Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is characterized by inflammation, expansion of the extraocular muscles and an increase in retroorbital fat. There are currently three forms of therapies offered: anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) (thionamides), radioactive iodine (RAI) and total thyroidectomy (Tx). There is currently no consensus on the treatment of Grave's disease and GO. Objective: To examine the difference in the outcome of GO in patients with moderate-to-severe GO, who receive Tx versus further ATD after suffering their first relapse of GO or in which GO stays the same following the initial decrease in ATD therapy after 6 months. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial with observer blinded analysis will analyze 60 patients with moderate-to-severe GO who receive Tx versus ATD without surgery. Main outcome variables include: muscle index measurements via ultrasound and thyroid antibody levels. Additional outcome variables include: CAScore/NOSPECS score, superonasal index measurements via ultrasound and quality of life score.

Interventions

Antithyroid drug

PROCEDURETotal thyroidectomy

Operation

Sponsors

Medical University of Vienna
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Masking description

Observer blinded analysis

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. GD and GO onset \< 12 months 2. no previous GD treatment other than antithyroid drugs (ATD) 3. first relapse after decrease of antithyroid medication within 4-6 months 4. GO treatment with glucocorticoids based on the Kahaly scheme 5. patients under ATD with normal thyroid function or subclinical hyperthyroid function and moderate-to-severe GO 6. clinically active inflammation according to CAScore (\>3/7) 7. informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1. GD and GO onset \> 12 months 2. more than one relapse of GO longer than 6 months from diagnosis 3. previous GD treatment by RAI or surgery 4. SNI greater than 7.0 5. urgent orbital decompression surgery 6. loss of vision 7. loss of visual field 8. loss of color vision 9. patients not receiving glucocorticoids for GO 10. cytological findings of postsurgical histopathological results suspicious for malignancy 11. pregnancy or breast-feeding 12. contraindication to GC 13. halt of GC therapy 14. Patients with diabetes mellitus 15. age below 18 years 16. no informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Muscle index (MI) from ultrasound measurements12 monthsMuscle index (MI) from ultrasound measurements
Thyroid antibodies12 monthsThyroid antibodies

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CAScore/NOSPECS score12 monthsCAScore/NOSPECS score
Superonasal index measurements via ultrasound12 monthsSuperonasal index measurements via ultrasound
Quality of life score12 monthsQuality of life score

Countries

Austria

Contacts

Primary ContactLindsay Brammen, MD
lindsay.brammen@meduniwien.ac.at+4314040056210
Backup ContactPhilipp Riss, MD
philipp.riss@meduniwien.ac.at+4314040056210

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026