OBJECTIVES: To identify evidence gaps in the literature on the burden of illness and treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED), to support the launch of efgartigimod to treat this rare autoimmune disease.
METHODS: A structured literature review was conducted of articles published from 10 October 2013 through 10October 2023 regarding disease description, epidemiology, humanistic and economic burden, treatment guidelines, and treatment patterns.
RESULTS: The incidence of TED is higher in females. Common signs are proptosis, eyelid retraction, ocular pain, and vision alterations. The condition severely impacts patient health-related quality of life, social functioning, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Information on the economic burden of TED is limited; hospitalizations, emergency visits, and treatment appear to be major drivers of direct costs. Indirect costs of TED include inability to return to work, work role limitations, unemployment, and disability pension. Several therapies, such as corticosteroids, are used off-label; teprotumumab is the only licensed pharmaceutical treatment for TED but is available only in the United States. Currently utilized therapies are associated with unique safety concerns.
CONCLUSIONS: TED negatively affects patient vision, health-related quality of life, and ability to work. Despite current treatment options, there is an unmet need for a new, effective treatment with a beneficial safety profile to control the symptoms of this potentially sight-threatening condition.
