Links between inflammation, thyroid antibodies, and retinal changes in Graves disease

Relationship Between Systemic Inflammation, Thyroid Autoimmunity, and Neuroretinal Structures in Graves Disease

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
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Elâzığ, Elaziğ)
• Trial ID: NCT07480720 on ClinicalTrials.gov

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.

Who should consider this trial

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.

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.

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 performed: 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.

Eligibility 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 this trial is running

Elâzığ, Elaziğ

• Fethi Sekin City Hospital — Elâzığ, Elaziğ, Turkey (Türkiye) (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: SİNEM KESER, MD

Conditions: Graves Disease, Graves Ophthalmopathy, Graves disease, Thyroid autoimmunity, Systemic inflammation, Optical coherence tomography, Retinal nerve fiber layer, Graves ophthalmopathy