Figure 4:

Figure 4:
Pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy as proposed by Weetman. T-cell infiltration of retro- ocular tissues arise from recognition of antigens shared with the thyroid. The T-cells release cytokines that stimulate orbital fibroblasts to produce glycosaminoglycans: these hydrophylic agents attract much water, which contributes to the enlargement of muscles and retrobulbar fat. (Reproduced with permission from The Lancet and Weetman 1991).