Ocular manifestations and immunological profiles of thyroid eye disease with lacrimal gland enlargement
By
Yan Sun
Fan Shi
Congyao Wang
Xia Dong
Yihua Su
Fenfen Yu
Shubin Hong
Dide Wu
Mengsha Zou
Zhiyun Yang
Haipeng Xiao
Pengxia Wan
July 15, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Ocular Symptoms and Immune Characteristics in Thyroid Eye Disease Featuring Lacrimal Gland Enlargement
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Key Mechanisms Autoimmune inflammatory condition affecting lacrimal glands and orbital tissues. Target Population Patients diagnosed with Graves’ disease (GD) and TED. Care Setting Ophthalmology clinics and hospitals.
Key Highlights
Lacrimal gland enlargement is associated with worse proptosis and unstable tear film. Elevated thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) levels correlate with lacrimal gland enlargement. Increased proportions of CD8+ T cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells observed in patients with enlarged lacrimal glands. Treg cell frequency may serve as a predictive biomarker for lacrimal gland involvement in TED. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of TED according to Bartley’s diagnostic criteria. Use of MRI for measuring lacrimal gland size. Management
No systemic glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants prior to study enrollment. Monitoring & Follow-up
Monitor TPO-Ab levels and Treg cell proportions in patients with TED. Risks
Exclusion of patients with other diseases affecting lacrimal gland size. Patient & Prescribing Data
TED patients with and without lacrimal gland enlargement.
Limited evidence on effective therapeutic strategies for lacrimal gland enlargement in TED.
Clinical Best Practices
Conduct comprehensive ocular examinations in TED patients. Utilize MRI for accurate assessment of lacrimal gland involvement. Evaluate immune profiles, including TPO-Ab and Treg cells, in managing TED. Related Resources & Content
