Therapeutic progress in Graves' ophthalmopathy

Graves' ophthalmopathy is the most important and frequent extrathyroidal expression of Graves' disease.Pre-therapy variables such as ethnicity,sex,age,thyroid function,level of thyroid-stimulating hormone-receptor antibodies and smoking inflnence response to therapy.On average,antithyroid drugs and thyroidectomy do not influence the natural course of Graves' ophthalmo-pathy.Radioactive iodide can cause the development or progression of Graves' ophthalmo-pathy,which is largely preventable with oral steroid prophylaxis.Restoring euthyroidism and abstaining from smoking is still the most economic and effective interventions.The progress made in the new drugs such as rituximab,PPAR-γ antagonist,insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor blockers and selenium for Graves' ophthalmo-pathy is worth waiting for. Key words: Graves' ophthalmopathy;  Antithyroid drugs ;  Radioactive iodine treatment;  Surgery;  Rituximab;  Selenium