Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic action of hydrogel in thyroid orbitopathy.

Purpose: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of applying on the eyelid surface sterile hydrogel dressings containing substances such as pineapple extract which has anti-inflammatory and antioedema properties, and 18 beta-glycyrrhetinic acid. Design: Randomized prospective clinical trial. Methods: 50 patients (16 males and 34 females) affected with thyroid-associated orbitopathy in acute phase equally distributed in two groups. The level of patient satisfaction of the treatment was measured by answering a questionnaire before and after the treatment phase. Results: While 24 patients of study group reported an reduction in the pain only 2 of control group did. In the study group questionnaire’s average values passed from 7,26±2,05 to 4,4±2,92 (p=0,006). No variation of the subjective data was observed in the control group. Conclusions: Treatment of the pain in the Graves’ orbitopathy with hydrogel dressings seems to be a valid alternative to oral or systemic anti-inflammatory therapy.