Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) developed in relation to estrogen comb
ined with progesterone therapy has not been reported previously. We report
a case of a 56-year-old postmenopausal woman who during estrogen/progestero
ne treatment developed signs and symptoms of orbitopathy. The patient had n
o previous history of autoimmune- or thyroid disorders. The initial eye sym
ptoms disappeared after withdrawal of hormone replacement therapy. Five yea
rs later estrogen/progesterone treatment was re-instituted. The patient had
relapse of orbitopathy The hormones were discontinued and the eye symptoms
disappeared again. This suggests that estrogen and/or progesterone could b
e of some pathogenetic importance in the induction of orbitopathy