Perspectives on Antibody-Based Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy Treatments

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Adrianna D. Jensen, MD Stuart R. Seiff, MD

Abstract

Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) is a disfiguring and in severe cases debilitating autoimmune disease that has been the subject of much recent drug development and investigation. This condition is characterized by an acute inflammatory phase followed by a resolving, cicatricial phase. There has been a search to find an effective agent to address the acute inflammatory phase of this disease, which would hopefully minimize end stage disfigurement, overall morbidity, and the need for surgery. The advent of antibody-based immunologic therapies has shown promise in this regard. Herein we discuss the current biologic therapeutic landscape, including agents targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R, teprotumumab) and the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R, tocilizumab), and provide additional insight and opinion from our group practice that is highly experienced in treating a large number of TAO patients. Notably, though teprotumumab is effective, and we regularly prescribe this agent with good success, we feel that tocilizumab should be regarded as another first-line therapy that may be a more appropriate choice for certain patients with active inflammatory TAO.

Article Details

How to Cite
JENSEN, Adrianna D.; SEIFF, Stuart R.. Perspectives on Antibody-Based Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy Treatments. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 4, apr. 2023. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3788>. Date accessed: 22 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i4.3788.
Section
Research Articles

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