Table 1.

Indications for systemic glucocorticoid treatment for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).

Clinical setting	Glucocorticoid therapy	Recommended regimen
Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for Graves’ hyperthyroidism in patients with mild TAO or at risk of post-RAI progression	Low-dose, short-term oral prednisone (steroid prophylaxis)	• 0.3–0.5 mg bodyweight tapered and withdrawn over three months  • 0.1–0-2 mg bodyweight tapered and withdrawn over six weeks*
Moderate-to-severe and active TAO	High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone	Twelve weekly infusions (500 mg × 6 followed by 250 mg ×6; cumulative dose: 4.5 grams Lower (2.5 grams) or higher (7.5 grams) cumulative doses can be used on clinical grounds

^*The two regimens are selected on the basis of the degree of risk of progression