Margarita Ochoa-Maya, MD, Medical Director of the Rare Disease Business Unit at Amgen, discusses the TEDucation campaign for thyroid eye disease (TED).
TED is a rare autoimmune disease that can dramatically impact a person’s vision. The condition often occurs in people with hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease (GD), but also can occur in association with hypothyroidism, euthyroidism, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. GD affects approximately 1% to 2% of the adult population, with an estimated 40% of GD patients subsequently developing TED over the course of their lifetime. The onset of TED typically occurs between 30 and 50 years of age, with the disease course more severe after age 50. Common symptoms can include upper eyelid retraction, dry eyes, inflammation, light sensitivity, as well as the sensation of a foreign body present in the eye.
Amgen hosted its inaugural TEDucation Challenge at the ENDOExpo—a fast-paced, trivia-style game that tested attendees’ knowledge of TED across categories such as diagnosis, patient journey, and treatment protocols. Participants, including board-certified endocrinologists and fellows, competed to deepen their understanding of TED, a condition that affects up to 40% of individuals with Graves’ disease. Attendees learned how to recognize key signs and symptoms in patients, and each participant’s involvement contributed a donation to a TED patient advocacy organization. To learn more about TED and discover ways to support patients, visit https://www.tedimpact.com/
The Amgen TEDucation campaign is an educational initiative for endocrinologists to learn more about TED so that it can be better identified, diagnosed, and treated proactively. The campaign utilizes games and guest speakers to engage endocrinologists while identifying gaps in care and giving physicians the tools they need to open up conversation with their patients.
Dr. Ochoa-Maya explains how the recent meeting identified the need for educating endocrinologists in their understanding of the American Thyroid Association and European Thyroid Association consensus of their role in identifying TED.
For more information on TED and other rare ophthalmology conditions, visit https://checkrare.com/diseases/ophthalmology-eye-diseases/
