Systemic glucocorticoid increases bone resorption and decreases bone formation and thereby decreases bone mineral density and increases fracture risk. This effect is evident with a daily dose of 5 mg for three months or an accumulated dose of 450mg. There is, however, less evidence that intermittent use of glucocorticoids is harmful to bone.~Graves orbitopathy is treated with a weekly infusion of the glucocorticoid methylprednisolone and the accumulated dose over a 12-week course sums up to 4,500mg.~The investigators therefore want to investigate if that treatment regimen affects bone turnover, bone mineral density, or bone structure in 30 patients with Graves' orbitopathy.
Continuous use of systemic glucocorticoids decreases bone mineral density and increases fracture risk. Graves' orbitopathy is treated with weekly infusion of high-dose intravenous glucocorticoid. The investigators aim at investigating whether this treatment regimen also affects bone metabolism.