Correlations between Clinical Activity Score and Serological and Radiological Data in Treatment-Naïve Ethnic Han Chinese Thyroid Eye Disease
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 2Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 3Department of Ophthalmology, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City, Philippines
- 4Hong Kong Laser Eye Centre, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 5Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 6Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 7Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 8Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- 9Eye Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
Abstract
Introduction: Clinical activity score (CAS) is widely used to assess thyroid eye disease (TED) activity, but its predictive value in East Asian patients remains unclear. This study evaluated the correlations between CAS and both radiological and serological markers in treatment-naïve ethnic Han Chinese TED patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of treatment-naïve ethnic Han Chinese TED patients was managed at The Chinese University of Hong Kong between January 2014 and May 2022. STIR signal intensity was quantified using signal intensity ratio (SIR), while disease activity was assessed clinically using CAS.
Results: A total of 188 patients with a mean onset age of 50 ± 14 years who underwent baseline MRI were included. The mean presenting CAS was 1.4 ± 1.3. A weak positive correlation was observed between CAS and the SIR of the levator palpebral superioris/superior rectus complex (r = 0.196, p = 0.00709). Nominal positive correlations were observed between CAS and the SIRs of the inferior rectus (r = 0.185, p = 0.0112) and medial rectus (r = 0.167, p = 0.0224). In subgroup analysis of patients presenting with CAS ≥3, nominal positive correlations were observed between CAS and the SIRs of the lateral rectus (r = 0.374, p = 0.0416), medial rectus (r = 0.351, p = 0.0487), and inferior rectus (r = 0.335, p = 0.0348). No correlation was identified in patient with CAS <3. No significant correlation was found between CAS and serological markers.
Conclusions: The correlation between CAS and STIR signals was generally weak, and no significant correlation was identified between CAS and serological markers. These findings suggest that orbital MRI may provide complementary information beyond clinical assessment in evaluating disease activity in ethnic Chinese TED patients.
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BibTeX
@article{lai2026correlations,
title = {{Correlations between Clinical Activity Score and Serological and Radiological Data in Treatment-Naïve Ethnic Han Chinese Thyroid Eye Disease}},
author = {Kenneth Ka Hei Lai and Fatema Mohamed Ali Abdulla Aljufairi and Jake Uy Sebastian and Nicole Tsz Yan Wong and Kevin Ka Fai Yuen and Carly S.K. Yeung and George Pak Man Cheng and Winnie Chiu Wing Chu and Wilson Wai Kuen Yip and Alvin Lerrmann Young and Hunter Kwok Lai Yuen and Alan Chun Hong Lee and Chiu Ming Ng and Clement Chee Yung Tham and Chi Pui Pang and Kelvin Kam Lung Chong},
journal = {Ophthalmic Research},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1159/000553278},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000553278},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Correlations between Clinical Activity Score and Serological and Radiological Data in Treatment-Naïve Ethnic Han Chinese Thyroid Eye Disease
AU - Kenneth Ka Hei Lai
AU - Fatema Mohamed Ali Abdulla Aljufairi
AU - Jake Uy Sebastian
AU - Nicole Tsz Yan Wong
AU - Kevin Ka Fai Yuen
AU - Carly S.K. Yeung
AU - George Pak Man Cheng
AU - Winnie Chiu Wing Chu
AU - Wilson Wai Kuen Yip
AU - Alvin Lerrmann Young
AU - Hunter Kwok Lai Yuen
AU - Alan Chun Hong Lee
AU - Chiu Ming Ng
AU - Clement Chee Yung Tham
AU - Chi Pui Pang
AU - Kelvin Kam Lung Chong
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/29
JO - Ophthalmic Research
DO - 10.1159/000553278
UR - https://doi.org/10.1159/000553278
AB - Introduction: Clinical activity score (CAS) is widely used to assess thyroid eye disease (TED) activity, but its predictive value in East Asian patients remains unclear. This study evaluated the correlations between CAS and both radiological and serological markers in treatment-naïve ethnic Han Chinese TED patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of treatment-naïve ethnic Han Chinese TED patients was managed at The Chinese University of Hong Kong between January 2014 and May 2022. STIR signal intensity was quantified using signal intensity ratio (SIR), while disease activity was assessed clinically using CAS. Results: A total of 188 patients with a mean onset age of 50 ± 14 years who underwent baseline MRI were included. The mean presenting CAS was 1.4 ± 1.3. A weak positive correlation was observed between CAS and the SIR of the levator palpebral superioris/superior rectus complex (r = 0.196, p = 0.00709). Nominal positive correlations were observed between CAS and the SIRs of the inferior rectus (r = 0.185, p = 0.0112) and medial rectus (r = 0.167, p = 0.0224). In subgroup analysis of patients presenting with CAS ≥3, nominal positive correlations were observed between CAS and the SIRs of the lateral rectus (r = 0.374, p = 0.0416), medial rectus (r = 0.351, p = 0.0487), and inferior rectus (r = 0.335, p = 0.0348). No correlation was identified in patient with CAS <3. No significant correlation was found between CAS and serological markers. Conclusions: The correlation between CAS and STIR signals was generally weak, and no significant correlation was identified between CAS and serological markers. These findings suggest that orbital MRI may provide complementary information beyond clinical assessment in evaluating disease activity in ethnic Chinese TED patients.
SN - 0030-3747
SN - 1423-0259
ER -