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Castellino N, Dammino E, Scollo D, Russo A, Livia F, Neri S, Avitabile T, Giardino F. Vision loss due to atypical bilateral edema of the optic nerve in a patient with hereditary angioedema: A case report. Eur J Ophthalmol 2024; 34:NP122-NP126. [PMID: 38238930 DOI: 10.1177/11206721241228003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe a rare case of vision loss due to bilateral edema of the optic nerve in a patient with Hereditary Angioedema, treated with prophylactic C1-esterase inhibitor. METHODS A 60-year-old Caucasian male affected by Hereditary Angioedema with unknown genetic defect (HAE- UNK) was admitted to our hospital presenting bilateral vision loss (best corrected visual acuity of 20/32 in the right eye and hand motion in the left eye) during an HAE attack. Intravenous administration of C1- esterase inhibitor (C1-INH, 1500 IU, Berinert, CSL Behring) determined the resolution of facial and periorbital swelling, however visual impairment persisted, in contrast with previous attacks experienced by the patient. Fundus examination revealed a vital optic disc without papilledema in both eyes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and orbits showed bilateral edema of the optic nerve sheath. Treatment with intravenous and oral steroids was ineffective. Subsequently, a prophylactic treatment strategy with subcutaneous C1-esterase inhibitor was started (7000 IU every four days). RESULTS Complete regression of edema of the optic nerves was observed by imaging at two months of follow-up after chronic treatment with C1-esterase inhibitor (7000 IU every four days). Complete restoration of visual acuity was achieved (BCVA 20/20 in both eyes) and multimodal imaging of the optic nerves demonstrated the absence of anatomical and functional damage. CONCLUSION Patients affected by HAE may show atypical presentation with edema of the optic nerves without involvement of the optic nerve head. They may significantly benefit from prophylactic and chronic treatment with C1-esterase inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edoardo Dammino
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Davide Scollo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea Russo
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Livia
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Sergio Neri
- Senior Consultant, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Giardino
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Catania, Italian Network for Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema (ITACA), Catania, Italy
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Triggianese P, D'Antonio A, Nesi C, Kroegler B, Di Marino M, Conigliaro P, Modica S, Greco E, Nucci C, Bergamini A, Chimenti MS, Cesareo M. Subclinical microvascular changes in ANCA-vasculitides: the role of optical coherence tomography angiography and nailfold capillaroscopy in the detection of disease-related damage. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:184. [PMID: 37430363 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02782-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both cardiovascular and complement-mediated disorders might lead to microvascular damages in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV). We aimed at investigating, for the first time, subclinical microvascular abnormalities with non-invasive techniques in AAV patients by analyzing both retinal and nailfold capillary changes. Retinal plexi were investigated using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), while nailfold capillary changes by video-capillaroscopy (NVC). Potential correlations between microvessels' abnormalities and disease damage were also explored. METHODS An observational study was conducted on consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria of defined diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), age ≥ 18 ≤ 75 yrs, and no ophthalmological disorders. Disease activity was assessed by Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), damage by Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI), and poorer prognosis by the Five Factor Score (FFS). Quantitative analysis of vessel density (VD) was performed by OCT-A in both superficial and deep capillary plexi. Figures and detailed analysis from NVC were performed for all subjects in the study. RESULTS Included AAV patients (n = 23) were compared with 20 age/sex-matched healthy controls (HC). Retinal VD in superficial whole and parafoveal plexi resulted significantly decreased in AAV compared to HC (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, deep whole and parafoveal vessel density was strongly reduced in AAV than HC (P ≤ 0.0001 for both). In AAV patients, significant inverse correlations occurred between VDI and OCTA-VD in both superficial (parafoveal, P = 0.03) and deep plexi (whole, P = 0.003, and parafoveal P = 0.02). Non-specific NVC pattern abnormalities occurred in 82% of AAV patients with a similar prevalence (75%) in HC. In AAV, common abnormalities were edema and tortuosity in a comparable distribution with HC. Correlations between NVC changes and OCT-A abnormalities have not been described. CONCLUSION Subclinical microvascular retinal changes occur in patients with AAV and correlate with the disease-related damage. In this context, the OCT-A can represent a useful tool in the early detection of vascular damage. AAV patients present microvascular abnormalities at NVC, whose clinical relevance requires further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Triggianese
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy.
| | - A D'Antonio
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - C Nesi
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - B Kroegler
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - M Di Marino
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - P Conigliaro
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - S Modica
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - E Greco
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - C Nucci
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - A Bergamini
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - M S Chimenti
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - M Cesareo
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, 00133, Italy
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Triggianese P, Di Marino M, Nesi C, Greco E, Modica S, Chimenti MS, Conigliaro P, Mancino R, Nucci C, Cesareo M. Subclinical Signs of Retinal Involvement in Hereditary Angioedema. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10225415. [PMID: 34830697 PMCID: PMC8618365 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10225415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To explore retinal abnormalities using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) in a highly selective cohort of patients with type I hereditary angioedema (HAE). This prospective case-control study included 40 type I HAE patients and 40 age-/sex-matched healthy subjects (HC). All participants underwent SD-OCT-scanning of retinal posterior pole (PP), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), and optic nerve head (ONH). Superficial/deep capillary density was analyzed by OCT-A. A total of 80 eyes from 40 HAE and 40 eyes from HC were evaluated. The pRNFL was thicker in HAE than in HC in nasal superior (p < 0.0001) and temporal quadrants (p = 0.0005 left, p = 0.003 right). The ONH thickness in HAE patients was greater than in HC in the nasal (p = 0.008 left, p = 0.01 right), temporal (p = 0.0005 left, p = 0.003 right), temporal inferior (p = 0.007 left, p = 0.0008 right), and global (p = 0.005 left, p = 0.007 right) scans. Compared to HC, HAE showed a lower capillary density in both superficial (p = 0.001 left, p = 0.006 right) and deep (p = 0.008 left, p = 0.004 right) whole images, and superficial (p = 0.03 left) and deep parafoveal (p = 0.007 left, p = 0.005 right) areas. Our findings documented subclinical retinal abnormalities in type I HAE, supporting a potential role of the retinal assessment by SD-OCT/OCT-A as a useful tool in the comprehensive care of HAE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Triggianese
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (E.G.); (S.M.); (M.S.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Matteo Di Marino
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (R.M.); (C.N.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-389-11-24-316
| | - Carolina Nesi
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (R.M.); (C.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Greco
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (E.G.); (S.M.); (M.S.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Stella Modica
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (E.G.); (S.M.); (M.S.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Maria Sole Chimenti
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (E.G.); (S.M.); (M.S.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Paola Conigliaro
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of “Medicina dei Sistemi”, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (P.T.); (E.G.); (S.M.); (M.S.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Raffaele Mancino
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (R.M.); (C.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Carlo Nucci
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (R.M.); (C.N.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimo Cesareo
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (R.M.); (C.N.); (M.C.)
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Di Marino M, Cesareo M, Aloe G, Nucci C, Giannini C, Martucci A, Aiello F, Pisano C, Ruvolo G, Mancino R. Retinal and Choroidal Vasculature in Patients with Marfan Syndrome. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:5. [PMID: 32879762 PMCID: PMC7442862 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.9.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To assess the retinal and choroidal vasculature in patients with genetically confirmed Marfan syndrome (MfS). Methods This prospective, case-control, observational study included 48 eyes of 24 patients with a genetic diagnosis of MfS and compared them with 52 eyes of 26 healthy controls. Best-corrected visual acuity, choroidal and retinal thickness measured by spectral domain-optical coherence tomography, retinal and choroidal vasculature characterized by optical coherence tomography angiography, were collected. A genetic counseling was carried out. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to evaluate the dimension of the aortic root, the ascending aorta and the left ventricle function and dimensions. Results A significant decrease in the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexi vessel density (VD) was evident, such as a decrease in the choriocapillaris plexus VD. In patients with MfS, a negative correlation between left ventricular diameter and the VD of the superficial and deep plexi was observed. Patients with MfS with greater posterior wall and interventricular septum dimensions had lower VD in both plexi (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between the dimension of the ascending aorta and foveal choriocapillary VD. In patients with MfS, increasing diameter of the ascending aorta was associated with a lower foveal choriocapillary VD (P < 0.05). Conclusions The severity of MfS correlates with the impairment of the retinal and choroidal vasculature. Translational Relevance Optical coherence tomography angiography may be a reproducible and noninvasive tool to study retinal blood flow in patients with MfS, with potential diagnostic and prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Di Marino
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Cesareo
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Aloe
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Nucci
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Clarissa Giannini
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Martucci
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Aiello
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Calogera Pisano
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ruvolo
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Mancino
- Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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