Links between inflammation, thyroid antibodies, and retinal changes in Graves disease
Official title: Relationship Between Systemic Inflammation, Thyroid Autoimmunity, and Neuroretinal Structures in Graves Disease
Run by Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi · NCT07480720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will see if blood markers of inflammation and thyroid antibodies are linked to retinal measurements from OCT in adults with Graves disease and in healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Elâzığ, Elaziğ) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | March 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07480720 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults (age ≥18) with a diagnosis of Graves disease who have OCT scans and blood test results taken within 10 days of each other, plus healthy adult controls without known thyroid disease for comparison.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with glaucoma, optic neuropathy, retinal vascular or macular disease, uveitis, high myopia (>6 diopters), diabetic retinopathy, prior intraocular surgery, active infection, malignancy, other systemic inflammatory diseases, or poor-quality OCT scans are unlikely to benefit from inclusion.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a retrospective review of medical records from patients and healthy controls seen at Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital between August 2018 and January 2026. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements, including macular thickness and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, will be collected alongside laboratory data such as complete blood count-derived inflammatory indices, C-reactive protein, thyroid function tests, and thyroid autoantibodies, with OCT and blood sampling within 10 days of each other. Neuroretinal parameters will be compared between healthy controls, Graves disease patients without ophthalmopathy, and Graves disease patients with ophthalmopathy. Statistical analyses will test for associations between systemic inflammation, thyroid autoimmunity markers, and neuroretinal structural changes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could identify retinal measurements or blood markers that help detect or monitor eye involvement in Graves disease earlier or more reliably.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational OCT studies in Graves ophthalmopathy have reported mixed but suggestive findings linking retinal changes to disease activity and inflammation, so this study builds on and expands that body of work.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years Diagnosis of Graves' disease (for the patient group) No known thyroid disease in healthy control participants Availability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements and laboratory data Time interval between OCT examination and blood sampling ≤ 10 days Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of glaucoma, optic neuropathy, or retinal vascular diseases Macular diseases, uveitis, or severe refractive error (high myopia \>6 diopters) Diabetic retinopathy History of previous intraocular surgery History of active infection, malignancy, or systemic inflammatory disease Poor-quality OCT measurements (segmentation errors or low signal strength)
Where it's running
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Fethi Sekin City Hospital
Elâzığ, Elaziğ, Turkey (Türkiye) Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Si̇nem Keser, Md
- Email: kesersinem@hotmail.com
- Phone: +905070646384
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.