Pediatric hyperthyroidism and thyroid eye disease management.

Thyroid eye disease arising in patients with Graves' disease is a complex condition affecting both children and adults that may lead to permanent visual loss. This review provides an update on management of hyperthyroidism and thyroid eye disease in pediatric patients up to 18 years of age. Management options for Graves' disease include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine therapy, thyroidectomy, and potentially highly selective thyrotropin receptor antagonists and immunomodulator agents. Treatment for thyroid eye disease includes steroids, surgery, and immunomodulator agents. Many current therapies for the management of Graves' disease and thyroid eye disease have been successfully demonstrated in the pediatric population. However, additional research is necessary to further evaluate the effectiveness of highly selective thyrotropin receptor antagonists and immunomodulator agents in pediatric patients.