Uveitis–glaucoma–hyphema syndrome and systemic anticoagulation

Seventy-one cases of uveitis-glaucoma-hyphaema syndrome

PURPOSE

To assess Uveitis-Glaucoma-Hyphaema syndrome (UGH syndrome) with focus on resolution, glaucoma development and risk factors.

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study with a cross-sectional component was performed to compare three groups with 71 patients each: UGH syndrome, dislocated intraocular lens (IOL) without UGH syndrome and ordinary pseudophakia. Main outcome measures were resolution of the UGH syndrome, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the need of glaucoma therapy. We also assessed the IOL-iris contact signs and the use of blood thinners.

RESULTS

Uveitis-Glaucoma-Hyphaema (UGH) syndrome resolved in 77 % of patients who underwent various kind of IOL surgery. Intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased and BCVA improved in the operated cases (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively), but not in the cases treated conservatively. Intraocular pressure (IOP) ≥22 mmHg at the first haemorrhage predicted the need of glaucoma therapy after UGH syndrome resolution (p = 0.002, area under the curve = 0.8). Fifty-one per cent of patients without preexisting glaucoma needed glaucoma therapy after UGH syndrome resolution. Pseudophacodonesis was seen more frequently in the UGH group than in the ordinary pseudophakia group (p = 0.001). Iris defects were not more frequent in the UGH group than in the Dislocated group but the types of defects differed (p < 0.0001). Blood thinners were not more frequent in UGH.

CONCLUSION

In UGH syndrome, the results are better with surgical intervention than with conservative treatment, but surgery does not guarantee resolution. Pseudophacodonesis is a risk factor for UGH syndrome, but blood thinners are not, and iris defects are not specific to UGH syndrome. A high IOP at the first haemorrhage increases the risk for needing subsequent IOP-lowering therapy.

A novel application of B-ultrasonography at various head positions in the diagnosis of untypical uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema (UGH) syndrome: A case report

RATIONALE

Uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema (UGH) syndrome could be identified by conventional ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and B-ultrasonography, but failed in some untypical cases. We introduced a novel application of B-ultrasonography in diagnosis of UGH syndrome in a rare case.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 60-year-old woman was referred for distending pain with blurred vision for more than 1 month in the right eye after cataract surgery.

DIAGNOSES

B-ultrasound scanner and UBM demonstrated the Intraocular Lens (IOL) was centered in the bag. No chafing in all directions was detected between IOL and iris/ciliary body. The proposed diagnoses were iridocyclitis and secondary glaucoma of the right eye.

INTERVENTIONS

The symptoms were not improved after antiinflammation and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering treatment for 1 month. B-ultrasonography was applied in horizontal, sitting, and head-down positions. The results demonstrated movements of IOLs when position changed. The IOLs were in contact with the iris pigment epithelium in sitting position and head-down positions but not in horizontal position. The dynamic interactions between IOLs and iris/ciliary body implied a diagnosis of UGH syndrome. The IOLs were then extracted.

OUTCOMES

Two weeks after the IOLs explantation, the IOP significantly reduced to a normal level in both eyes. Ten-month follow-up showed that the IOP was maintained at a normal level.

LESSONS

The chronically intermittent chafing between IOL and iris in specific head positions would also lead to UGH syndrome. Dynamic application of B-ultrasonography in various head positions could be useful in the diagnosis of an untypical UGH syndrome.

Evaluation of recurrent hyphema after trabeculectomy with ultrabiomicroscopy 50-80 MHz: a case report

Background

Hyphema is a complication that can occur after glaucoma filtering surgery. Biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment is commonly used to diagnose it and gonioscopy may provide a useful support to find the source of the haemorrhage. Unfortunately, when the blood hides the structure of the anterior segment the gonioscopic examination fails. In this case we performed ultrabiomiscroscopy with 50–80 MHz probes to overcome the limits of gonioscopy. The use of this technique to study the anterior segment of the eye has previously been reported in literature, but we illustrates its importance for performing a correct diagnosis in a specific case of hyphema.

Case presentation

We report a case of a sixty-year-old caucasian male with recurrent hyphema in the left eye. The episodes of hyphema were four in two years and the patient came to the hospital for the first time in the last occasion. The past episodes were managed with topical corticosteroids and mydriatic drops. He referred surgical trabeculectomy in both eyes 5 years before the first symptoms and no specific eye trauma before the first episode. The examination of the anterior segment revealed a 2 mm hyphema in the left eye due to blood leakage through the superior iridectomy. Gonioscopy could not identify the source of the haemorrhage. B-scan ultrasound and ultrabiomiscroscopy, with 50–80 MHz probes, were performed. Ultrabiomiscroscopy, mainly with the probe of 80 MHz, provided images of high resolution of the structures of the anterior segment and it allowed the visualization of an abnormal vessel at the inner margin of the trabeculectomy opening, probably responsible of the recurrent hyphema.

Conclusion

Ultrabiomicroscopy proved to be a useful diagnostic technique for identifying the cause of the recurrent hyphema when other examination techniques are not applicable.