Molecular Mimicry between Betaine Aldehyde Dehydrogenase of Leptospira and Retinal Dehydrogenase 1 of Human Lens: A Potential Trigger for Cataract Formation in Leptospiral Uveitis Patients

Leptospiral Uveitis: Case Series and Review of Literature

AIM

To present the clinical features and review of literature of leptospiral uveitis.

METHODS

We present clinical features of patients with leptospiral uveitis with positive Leptospira IgM antibodies.

RESULTS

Twenty-six eyes of 24 patients, 11 males (45.8%), were included. The mean age was 37.5 ± 15.6 years. 91.7% had unilateral uveitis, 88.5% panuveitis, 11.5% anterior uveitis, 15.4% had hypopyon, 8% had cataract and 3.8% eyes had cystoid macular edema. Vitritis with characteristic vitreous membranes was an important feature. Retinal and choroidal vasculature were preserved on swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. Mean presenting BCVA was logMAR0.49 ± 0.41, while final BCVA was logMAR0.04 ± 0.13. The mean duration for complete resolution of uveitis was 39.1 ± 15.5 days. 84.6% eyes achieved BCVA 6/6.

CONCLUSION

Leptospiral uveitis is an under-reported entity. It may present as anterior uveitis or panuveitis. It must be included in the differential diagnosis of non-granulomatous uveitis. The visual prognosis is usually favorable even in severe cases.

Autoimmune Diseases Following Environmental Disasters: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Environmental disasters are extreme environmental processes such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunamis, floods, cyclones, storms, wildfires and droughts that are the consequences of the climate crisis due to human intervention in the environment. Their effects on human health have alarmed the global scientific community. Among them, autoimmune diseases, a heterogeneous group of disorders, have increased dramatically in many parts of the world, likely as a result of changes in our exposure to environmental factors. However, only a limited number of studies have attempted to discover and analyze the complex association between environmental disasters and autoimmune diseases. This narrative review has therefore tried to fill this gap. First of all, the activation pathways of autoimmunity after environmental disasters have been analyzed. It has also been shown that wildfires, earthquakes, desert dust storms and volcanic eruptions may damage human health and induce autoimmune responses to inhaled PM2.5, mainly through oxidative stress pathways, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and epithelial barrier damage. In addition, it has been shown that heat stress, in addition to increasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, may also disrupt the intestinal barrier, thereby increasing its permeability to toxins and pathogens or inducing epigenetic changes. In addition, toxic volcanic elements may accelerate the progressive destruction of myelin, which may potentially trigger multiple sclerosis. The complex and diverse mechanisms by which vector-borne, water-, food-, and rodent-borne diseases that often follow environmental diseases may also trigger autoimmune responses have also been described. In addition, the association between post-disaster stress and the onset or worsening of autoimmune disease has been demonstrated. Given all of the above, the rapid restoration of post-disaster health services to mitigate the flare-up of autoimmune conditions is critical.

Outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection in a developing country

PURPOSE

To report the outcomes of cataract surgery in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Setting Tertiary care ophthalmic hospital DESIGN: Retrospective study METHODS: This study included all eyes of patients with known HIV infection undergoing cataract surgery with a minimum follow-up of 6 months between January 2017 and December 2020. Patients who underwent combined surgeries and pediatric patients were excluded from analysis. Data were retrieved from electronic medical records and we documented demographics, history, detailed anterior and posterior segment examination, pre-operative grade and type of cataract, type of surgery done, its complication and post-operative course. All these parameters were recorded at the baseline visit and at 1 month and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty nine eyes of 107 HIV infected patients that underwent cataract surgery were evaluated. Mature cataract was seen in 31% of the eyes. Features of HIV related uveitis/retinitis were seen in 21 (16.2%) eyes. Phacoemulsification was performed in 44 (34.1%) eyes while manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) was done in 85 (65.9%) eyes. Intra-operative complications were encountered in 4 (3.1%) eyes. At the final follow-up, there was a significant improvement in median corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) from LogMAR 1.08 (5/60) at baseline to LogMAR 0 (6/6) at 6 months follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Patients with HIV infection usually present early and with advanced cataracts. Visual outcomes after cataract surgery are generally good but affected by presence of prior HIV related uveitis or retinitis.

Rapid maturation of unilateral cataract in leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial cause for nongranulomatous uveitis in tropical countries. It is known to cause rapid maturation of cataract in young adults. Here we present six patients who had presenting sign as fully matured pearly white unilateral cataract without history of any trauma in their first visit. All except one patient were positive for leptospirosis by ELISA testing. Histopathological analyses of those lenses showed globular degeneration.