Prognostic value of extraocular muscles for intraocular pressure in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy patients

Abstract

Background Persistent increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) is often observed in eyes with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), which has irreversible effects on the visual function of patients. This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements of extraocular muscle (EOM) volume in prognosing IOP in patients with TAO. Methods This single-center study was conducted in Beijing Friendship Hospital (Beijing, China), a tertiary hospital. From 35 participants, 70 eyes (normal IOP group: 50 eyes; high IOP group: 20 eyes; random samples) were enrolled in this study. Basic data from patients were collected and compared using 2-sample t- tests and chi-squared tests. The volume of the EOM, orbit fat, and whole orbit were measured by orbital MRI. Moreover, proptosis, optic nerve (ON) sheath diameter, optic nerve angle (ONA), and gaze angle were additionally measured with MRI. These parameters were compared between the two groups using 2-sample t- tests and chi-squared tests. Before and after post-methylprednisolone therapy, the MRI data of 20 eyes were obtained and compared with a paired t- test. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was obtained using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan. Spearman rank correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to evaluate the role of these factors in IOP changes. Results The EOM volume and axial and sagittal ONAs in the high-IOP group were significantly increased compared to the normal-IOP group (P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.02, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicate that the cutoff value for EOM volume for the diagnosis of high IOP was significantly larger than that of the other parameters except orbit volume (P=0.03, P=0.004, P=0.08, respectively). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between EOM volume and ON sheath diameter and average RNFL thickness (P=0.01, P=0.02, respectively). A paired t- test indicated a significant decrease of EOM volume and ON sheath diameter as well as a significant enlargement of the axial ONAs after methylprednisolone therapy (P=0.002, P=0.02, P=0.05, respectively). Conclusions EOM volume was an effective diagnostic factor for tracking IOP changes and ON patterns in patients with TAO. Methylprednisolone therapy is recommended for patients with TAO with secondary glaucoma to quickly reduce the EOM volume.

Correlation between Structural and Functional Changes in Patients with Raised Intraocular Pressure Due to Graves’ Orbitopathy

“…There are a number of mechanisms by which thyroid disorders can cause the development of glaucomatous damage. Possible causes of elevated IOP include elevation of episcleral venous pressure as a consequence of orbital congestion, increase in retrobulbar pressure, restriction and compression of the eyeball by the contraction of enlarged and fibrotic extraocular muscles, glycosaminoglycan deposition in the trabecular meshwork, and genetic predisposition to thyroid disease and glaucoma [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”