Application of digital infrared thermal imaging in determining inflammatory state and follow-up effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy
Journal
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Journal Volume
246
Journal Issue
1
Pages
45-49
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Inflammation can cause a local increase in temperature. Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) has been used to monitor the temperature distribution of human skin. Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease, and patients are treated with immunosuppressive agents if the ophthalmopathy is at an inflammatory state. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the feasibility of DITI in determining inflammatory state and follow-up effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in patients with GO. Methods: Digital infrared thermal imaging was used to measure local temperatures of lateral orbit (reference point), upper eyelid, caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva, lower eyelid, and cornea, and to make thermal density plots in 14 patients (28 eyes) with GO including inflammatory signs (mean clinical activity score 2.5), and 16 normal controls (32 eyes). We also performed methylprednisolone pulse therapy in 11 patients (22 eyes) with active GO, and measured clinical activity score and local temperatures before and after treatment. The focal change in temperature after treatment and the correlation between temperature variation and change in clinical activity score were then analyzed. Thermal density plots were also compared. Results: Local temperatures of the caruncle, medial conjunctiva, lateral conjunctiva, and lower eyelid of the patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls. In the 11 GO patients treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the temperatures of the caruncle, medial conjunctiva, and lower eyelid were significantly decreased after treatment. Temperature variation significantly and positively correlated with a change in clinical activity score (correlation coefficient = 0.8, n = 22, p = 0.000). The temperature decreased after treatment in patients who were responsive to methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and the thermal density plot was close to that of normal controls. Conclusions: Digital infrared thermal imaging might be helpful in evaluating the inflammatory state of GO and the follow-up effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy. ? Springer-Verlag 2007.
SDGs
Other Subjects
methylprednisolone; adult; article; clinical article; conjunctiva; controlled study; cornea; correlation analysis; digital thermography; drug effect; drug pulse therapy; endocrine ophthalmopathy; feasibility study; female; follow up; human; inflammation; lower eyelid; male; outcome assessment; priority journal; scoring system; temperature measurement; thermography; upper eyelid; visual system parameters; Adult; Aged; Body Temperature; Conjunctiva; Cornea; Eyelids; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glucocorticoids; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Inflammation; Infrared Rays; Infusions, Intravenous; Male; Methylprednisolone; Middle Aged; Orbit; Pulse Therapy, Drug; Thermography
Type
journal article