A Chinese survey of clinical practice on the management of thyroid eye disease

Jingyue Chen; Chenyan Li; Weiping Teng; Zhongyan Shan; Jun Jin; Yining Wei; Jing Sun; Yushu Li; Huifang Zhou

doi:10.1530/ETJ-23-0269

European Thyroid Journal (May 2024)

A Chinese survey of clinical practice on the management of thyroid eye disease

Jingyue Chen,
Chenyan Li,
Weiping Teng,
Zhongyan Shan,
Jun Jin,
Yining Wei,
Jing Sun,
Yushu Li,
Huifang Zhou

Affiliations

Jingyue Chen: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Chenyan Li: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Weiping Teng: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Zhongyan Shan: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Jun Jin: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yining Wei: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Jing Sun: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yushu Li: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Huifang Zhou: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/ETJ-23-0269
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 3
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Objective: The management of thyroid eye disease (TED) has undergone significant changes for decades. The study sought to investigate current clinical practice on the management of TED in China. Methods: An online questionnaire survey was conducted from April to May 2023. The questionnaire involved diagnostic criteria for TED, multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) collaboration, and treatment preference for mild, moderate, and severe TED. Results: A total of 289 questionnaires were collected, with 165 from endocrinologists and 124 from ophthalmologists. Only 36.7% of participants claimed there was an MDT clinical pattern for TED in their institutions. The coverage of biological agents was around 10% or lower. These were distinctly lower than in Western countries. About 62.6% of participants believed the incidence of TED has increased in recent years. Imaging techniques were used widely to assist in the diagnosis of TED. However, there was still controversy regarding the definition of proptosis in the Chinese population. Most doctors managed risk factors and provided orbital supportive treatments of artificial tears and glasses. For mild active TED, endocrinologists (39.4%) were inclined to recommend therapy for hyperthyroidism alone, while ophthalmologists (43.6%) preferred orbital corticosteroid injections. Currently, the most widely used treatment for moderate to severe active TED was high-dose intravenous corticosteroid (94.8%), while orbital radiotherapy combined with immunosuppressive agents was the most recognized second-line therapy (43.6%). Conclusion: The study documented the consistency and differences between current clinical practices in the management of TED in China and the recently updated guidelines. There was a remarkable difference between ophthalmology and endocrinology departments, warranting management optimization.

Published in European Thyroid Journal

ISSN: 2235-0802 (Online)
Publisher: Bioscientifica
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology
Website: https://etj.bioscientifica.com/

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