Serum Selenium Status in Egyptians Patients who had Graves’ Disease with and without Ophthalmopathy

Abstract

Abstract Objective Selenium is effective in improving quality of life and reducing the progression of active Graves’ orbitopathy. The effect of correcting relative selenium deficiency on improving Graves’ orbitopathy is unknown, as baseline selenium levels have not previously been measured. The study aims to determine whether serum selenium levels are reduced in patients with Graves’ disease with orbitopathy (GO) compared with without orbitopathy (GD). Design A prospective, case–control study performed between 2019 and 2021 at endocrine and ophthalmology clinics in Ain SHams University, Cairo. Subjects A total of 75 subjects, 25 as control and a total of 50 patients with Graves’ disease participated in the study: 25 with Graves’ orbitopathy and 25 without Graves’ orbitopathy. Measurements Serum selenium levels in all groups. Results Mean serum selenium levels were significantly lower in GO (16.6 +- 7.5 ng/ml) than in GD (42.9 +- 8.2 ng/ml) with (P < 0.001). Mean selenium levels appeared to decrease in parallel with increasing severity of GO; selenium level was 30-55 ng/ml in GD, 21-28ng/ml in mild GO, 18-22 ng/ml in moderate GO and 5-16 ng/ml in severe GO (P < 0.001). Conclusion Serum selenium levels are lower in patients with GO compared with GD in an Egyptian study population with marginal selenium status. selenium deficiency may be an risk factor for orbitopathy in patients with Graves’ disease.