[Individual choice of treatment in patients with progressive infiltrative ophthalmopathy in Graves-Basedow disease].

The results of different methods of treatment of infiltrative endocrine ophthalmopathy in 68 patients (52 women and 16 men) aged 28-63 years were evaluated. The analysis of the results indicates that combined treatment with glucocorticoids and tele-cobalt therapy may be considered as the method of choice. In patients with rapidly progressive ophthalmopathy and in patients with inactive peptic ulcer intravenous pulsed glucocorticoid administration may be used instead of oral treatment. When contraindications to corticotherapy exist, good results of treatment may be achieved with tele-cobalt therapy alone. Plasmapheresis seems less effective but may be used in rapidly progressive, short term lasting ophthalmopathy in patients refusing tele-cobalt therapy, in connection with glucocorticoids or after unsuccessful glucocorticoid therapy alone. The consecutive treatment with glucocorticoids and tele-cobalt therapy is effective but requires much more time.