[Inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy and self-esteem].

PURPOSE To assess the self-esteem of Graves' ophthalmopathy patients in the inactive phase. METHODS Thirty euthyroid patients were evaluated in the inactive phase of disease with age ranging from 26 to 65 years, average of 43 +/- 11,0 years, called study group and 39 individuals without Graves' ophthalmopathy with age ranging from 18 to 67 years, average of 41 +/- 13,4 years, selected from the general population called control group. To evaluate the self-esteem the Rosenberg UNIFESP/EPM self-esteem scale, applied by means of an interview, was utilized. The self-esteem scores in the two studied groups were compared by means of the non-parametric Mann-Whitey test. The same test was applied to compare the obtained scores in the Graves' ophthalmopathy group considering disease severity. RESULTS No alteration with statistical significance in Graves' ophthalmopathy patients' self-esteem was observed (P=0.057). The study group presented, on average, lower self-esteem values when compared with the control group. There was no difference of self-esteem mild and moderate-severe patients (P=0.2710). CONCLUSION Graves' ophthalmopathy in the inactive phase did not affect the patients' self-esteem in the group studied.