Serum selenium status in Graves' disease with and without orbitopathy: a case–control study. (30th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khong, Jwu Jin; Goldstein, Rebecca F.; Sanders, Kerrie M.; Schneider, Hans; Pope, Jeffrey; Burdon, Kathryn P.; Craig, Jamie E.; Ebeling, Peter R.
• Is Part Of: Clinical endocrinology. Volume 80:Number 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 905
• Page End: 910
• Publication Date: 2014-01-30
• Subjects: Endocrinology -- Periodicals; 616.4005
• DOI: 10.1111/cen.12392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0664

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cen12392-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Selenium is effective in improving quality of life and reducing the progression of active Graves' orbitopathy. The effect of correcting relative selenium deficiency on improving Graves' orbitopathy is unknown, as baseline selenium levels have not previously been measured. The study aims to determine whether serum selenium levels are reduced in patients with Graves' disease with orbitopathy (GO) compared with without orbitopathy (GD).</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>A prospective, case–control study performed between 2009 and 2012 at endocrine and ophthalmology clinics in Australia.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Patients</title> <p>A total of 198 patients with Graves' disease participated in the study: 101 with Graves' orbitopathy and 97 without Graves' orbitopathy.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>Serum selenium levels in both groups.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Mean serum selenium levels were significantly lower in GO (1·10 ± 0·18 μ<sc>m</sc>) than in GD (1·19 ± 0·20 μ<sc>m</sc>) (<italic>P</italic> = 0·001). Mean selenium levels appeared to decrease in parallel with increasing severity of GO; selenium level was 1·19 ± 0·20 μ<sc>m</sc> in GD, 1·10 ± 0·19 μ<sc>m</sc> in moderate‐to‐severe GO and 1·09 ± 0·17 μ<sc>m</sc> in sight‐threatening GO (<italic>P = </italic>0·003). Serum selenium levels remained significantly lower in GO after adjusting for age, smoking status, thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine treatment and residential location.</p> </sec> <sec id="cen12392-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Serum selenium levels are lower in patients with GO compared with GD in an Australian study population with marginal selenium status. Relative selenium deficiency may be an independent risk factor for orbitopathy in patients with Graves' disease.</p> </sec> </abstract>