Endocrine ophthalmopathy in a patient under continuous immunosuppressive therapy after cardiac transplantation

Thyroid. 1995 Dec;5(6):477-80. doi: 10.1089/thy.1995.5.477.

Abstract

We present the case of a female patient who has been on immunosuppressive therapy consisting of cyclosporin A and prednisolone for 9 years because of heterotopic (auxiliary) heart transplantation in 1984. In 1992 the patient developed Graves' disease followed by endocrine ophthalmopathy class IV 1 year later. To our knowledge this is the first report on Graves' disease with subsequent severe endocrine ophthalmopathy in a patient under immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporin A and prednisolone in doses that effectively prevent heart transplant rejection. Prednisolone, which is used as a first line treatment of endocrine ophthalmopathy, and cyclosporin A, both inhibit T cell function. However, in this patient they were not effective in preventing the development of Graves' disease with subsequent endocrine ophthalmopathy, both of which are autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cyclosporine / adverse effects*
  • Eye Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Eye Diseases / etiology*
  • Eye Diseases / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Graves Disease / chemically induced
  • Graves Disease / complications*
  • Graves Disease / radiotherapy
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Intraocular Pressure / drug effects
  • Intraocular Pressure / physiology
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Prednisolone