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Dong Y, Zhu H, Chen L, Huang Y, Christen W, Cook NR, Copeland T, Mora S, Buring JE, Lee IM, Costenbader KH, Manson JE. Effects of Vitamin D 3 and Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation on Biomarkers of Systemic Inflammation: 4-Year Findings from the VITAL Randomized Trial. Nutrients 2022; 14:5307. [PMID: 36558465 PMCID: PMC9782648 DOI: 10.3390/nu14245307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The VITAL study was a nationwide, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial trial of vitamin D3 (2000 IU/day) and marine n-3 FAs (1 g/day) supplements. We recently reported that vitamin D supplementation with or without omega 3 fatty acids reduced autoimmune disease by 22% in the VITAL study. Objective: To investigate the effects of vitamin D3 and/or n-3 FAs on changes in systemic inflammatory biomarkers including pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines over a 4-year period in the VITAL sub-cohort with in-person evaluations at the Center for Clinical Investigations (CCI) in Boston. Design: Serum levels of four inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured in a total of 2713 samples from those 1054 VITAL/CCI participants (aged 64.9 ± 6.5 years, 49% female, 84% white, and 9% black) at baseline, year 2, and year 4 follow-up visits. Results: In multiple-adjusted models, vitamin D3 supplementation decreased serum hs-CRP levels by 19% at 2-year follow-up (nominal p = 0.007; p-value after multiple comparison adjustment = 0.028), but not at 4-year follow-up (nominal and adjusted p-values > 0.05). The effects of vitamin D3 on other inflammatory markers were not statistically significant either at year 2 or year 4 (all adjusted p-values > 0.05). Marine n-3 FAs were not significantly associated with changes of all the above inflammatory markers either at years 2 and 4, after multiple comparison adjustment (all p-values > 0.05). Conclusions: Vitamin D3 supplementation with or without n-3 FAs decreased hs-CRP by 19% at year 2, but not other inflammatory biomarkers at year 2 or year 4, while n-3 FAs with or without vitamin D3 did not significantly affect these biomarkers at either time point. Our findings support a potential role of vitamin D supplementation in modulating the chronic inflammatory process, systemic inflammation, and possibly autoimmune disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbin Dong
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Haidong Zhu
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Ying Huang
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - William Christen
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nancy R. Cook
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trisha Copeland
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samia Mora
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Julie E. Buring
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - I-Min Lee
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karen H. Costenbader
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - JoAnn E. Manson
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Chew EY, Clemons TE, Agrón E, Domalpally A, Keenan TDL, Vitale S, Weber C, Smith DC, Christen W. Long-term Outcomes of Adding Lutein/Zeaxanthin and ω-3 Fatty Acids to the AREDS Supplements on Age-Related Macular Degeneration Progression: AREDS2 Report 28. JAMA Ophthalmol 2022; 140:692-698. [PMID: 35653117 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.1640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance After the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) study, the beta carotene component was replaced by lutein/zeaxanthin for the development of the revised AREDS supplement. However, it is unknown if the increased risk of lung cancer observed in those assigned beta carotene persists beyond the conclusion of the AREDS2 trial and if there is a benefit of adding lutein/zeaxanthin to the original AREDS supplement that can be observed with long-term follow-up. Objective To assess 10-year risk of developing lung cancer and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design, Setting, and Participants This was a multicenter epidemiologic follow-up study of the AREDS2 clinical trial, conducted from December 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. Included in the analysis were participants with bilateral or unilateral intermediate AMD for an additional 5 years after clinical trial. Eyes/participants were censored at the time of late AMD development, death, or loss to follow-up. Data were analyzed from November 2019 to March 2022. Interventions During the clinical trial, participants were randomly assigned primarily to lutein/zeaxanthin and/or ω-3 fatty acids or placebo and secondarily to no beta carotene vs beta carotene and low vs high doses of zinc. In the epidemiologic follow-up study, all participants received AREDS2 supplements with lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E, and zinc plus copper. Outcomes were assessed at 6-month telephone calls. Analyses of AMD progression and lung cancer development were conducted using proportional hazards regression and logistic regression, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures Self-reported lung cancer and late AMD validated with medical records. Results This study included 3882 participants (mean [SD] baseline age, 72.0 [7.7] years; 2240 women [57.7%]) and 6351 eyes. At 10 years, the odds ratio (OR) of having lung cancer was 1.82 (95% CI, 1.06-3.12; P = .02) for those randomly assigned to beta carotene and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.79-1.66; P = .46) for lutein/zeaxanthin. The hazard ratio (HR) for progression to late AMD comparing lutein/zeaxanthin with no lutein/zeaxanthin was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.84-0.99; P = .02) and comparing ω-3 fatty acids with no ω-3 fatty acids was 1.01 (95% CI, 0.93-1.09; P = .91). When the lutein/zeaxanthin main effects analysis was restricted to those randomly assigned to beta carotene, the HR was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.68-0.92; P = .002). A direct analysis of lutein/zeaxanthin vs beta carotene showed the HR for late AMD was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.73-0.98; P = .02). The HR for low vs high zinc was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.94-1.14; P = .49), and the HR for no beta carotene vs beta carotene was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.94-1.15; P = .48). Conclusions and Relevance Results of this long-term epidemiologic follow-up study of the AREDS2 cohort suggest that lutein/zeaxanthin was an appropriate replacement for beta carotene in AREDS2 supplements. Beta carotene usage nearly doubled the risk of lung cancer, whereas there was no statistically significant increased risk with lutein/zeaxanthin. When compared with beta carotene, lutein/zeaxanthin had a potential beneficial association with late AMD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Y Chew
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Elvira Agrón
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Tiarnán D L Keenan
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Susan Vitale
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Claire Weber
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Douglas C Smith
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - William Christen
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Manson JE, Cook NR, Lee IM, Christen W, Bassuk SS, Mora S, Gibson H, Albert CM, Gordon D, Copeland T, D'Agostino D, Friedenberg G, Ridge C, Bubes V, Giovannucci EL, Willett WC, Buring JE. Marine n-3 Fatty Acids and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. N Engl J Med 2019; 380:23-32. [PMID: 30415637 PMCID: PMC6392053 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1811403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 570] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher intake of marine n-3 (also called omega-3) fatty acids has been associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer in several observational studies. Whether supplementation with n-3 fatty acids has such effects in general populations at usual risk for these end points is unclear. METHODS We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with a two-by-two factorial design, of vitamin D3 (at a dose of 2000 IU per day) and marine n-3 fatty acids (at a dose of 1 g per day) in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer among men 50 years of age or older and women 55 years of age or older in the United States. Primary end points were major cardiovascular events (a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes) and invasive cancer of any type. Secondary end points included individual components of the composite cardiovascular end point, the composite end point plus coronary revascularization (expanded composite of cardiovascular events), site-specific cancers, and death from cancer. Safety was also assessed. This article reports the results of the comparison of n-3 fatty acids with placebo. RESULTS A total of 25,871 participants, including 5106 black participants, underwent randomization. During a median follow-up of 5.3 years, a major cardiovascular event occurred in 386 participants in the n-3 group and in 419 in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.06; P=0.24). Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 820 participants in the n-3 group and in 797 in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.13; P=0.56). In the analyses of key secondary end points, the hazard ratios were as follows: for the expanded composite end point of cardiovascular events, 0.93 (95% CI, 0.82 to 1.04); for total myocardial infarction, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.59 to 0.90); for total stroke, 1.04 (95% CI, 0.83 to 1.31); for death from cardiovascular causes, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.21); and for death from cancer (341 deaths from cancer), 0.97 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.20). In the analysis of death from any cause (978 deaths overall), the hazard ratio was 1.02 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.15). No excess risks of bleeding or other serious adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids did not result in a lower incidence of major cardiovascular events or cancer than placebo. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others; VITAL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01169259 .).
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn E Manson
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Nancy R Cook
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - I-Min Lee
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - William Christen
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Shari S Bassuk
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Samia Mora
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Heike Gibson
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Christine M Albert
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - David Gordon
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Trisha Copeland
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Denise D'Agostino
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Georgina Friedenberg
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Claire Ridge
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Vadim Bubes
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Edward L Giovannucci
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Walter C Willett
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Julie E Buring
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., C.M.A., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
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4
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Manson JE, Cook NR, Lee IM, Christen W, Bassuk SS, Mora S, Gibson H, Gordon D, Copeland T, D'Agostino D, Friedenberg G, Ridge C, Bubes V, Giovannucci EL, Willett WC, Buring JE. Vitamin D Supplements and Prevention of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease. N Engl J Med 2019; 380:33-44. [PMID: 30415629 PMCID: PMC6425757 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1809944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 948] [Impact Index Per Article: 189.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear whether supplementation with vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease, and data from randomized trials are limited. METHODS We conducted a nationwide, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with a two-by-two factorial design, of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) at a dose of 2000 IU per day and marine n-3 (also called omega-3) fatty acids at a dose of 1 g per day for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease among men 50 years of age or older and women 55 years of age or older in the United States. Primary end points were invasive cancer of any type and major cardiovascular events (a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes). Secondary end points included site-specific cancers, death from cancer, and additional cardiovascular events. This article reports the results of the comparison of vitamin D with placebo. RESULTS A total of 25,871 participants, including 5106 black participants, underwent randomization. Supplementation with vitamin D was not associated with a lower risk of either of the primary end points. During a median follow-up of 5.3 years, cancer was diagnosed in 1617 participants (793 in the vitamin D group and 824 in the placebo group; hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88 to 1.06; P=0.47). A major cardiovascular event occurred in 805 participants (396 in the vitamin D group and 409 in the placebo group; hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.12; P=0.69). In the analyses of secondary end points, the hazard ratios were as follows: for death from cancer (341 deaths), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.67 to 1.02); for breast cancer, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.79 to 1.31); for prostate cancer, 0.88 (95% CI, 0.72 to 1.07); for colorectal cancer, 1.09 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.62); for the expanded composite end point of major cardiovascular events plus coronary revascularization, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.86 to 1.08); for myocardial infarction, 0.96 (95% CI, 0.78 to 1.19); for stroke, 0.95 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.20); and for death from cardiovascular causes, 1.11 (95% CI, 0.88 to 1.40). In the analysis of death from any cause (978 deaths), the hazard ratio was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.12). No excess risks of hypercalcemia or other adverse events were identified. CONCLUSIONS Supplementation with vitamin D did not result in a lower incidence of invasive cancer or cardiovascular events than placebo. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others; VITAL ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01169259 .).
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn E Manson
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Nancy R Cook
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - I-Min Lee
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - William Christen
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Shari S Bassuk
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Samia Mora
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Heike Gibson
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - David Gordon
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Trisha Copeland
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Denise D'Agostino
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Georgina Friedenberg
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Claire Ridge
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Vadim Bubes
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Edward L Giovannucci
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Walter C Willett
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
| | - Julie E Buring
- From the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C., S.S.B., S.M., H.G., D.G., T.C., D.D., G.F., C.R., V.B., E.L.G., W.C.W., J.E.B.), and the Departments of Epidemiology (J.E.M., N.R.C., I.-M.L., W.C.W., J.E.B.) and Nutrition (E.L.G., W.C.W.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - all in Boston
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Sesso H, Christen W, Glynn R, Manson J, Buring J, Gaziano J. Role of Baseline Nutritional Status on the Effect of a Multivitamin on Cancer in the Physicians' Health Study II. FASEB J 2015. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.906.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Howard Sesso
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
| | - William Christen
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Robert Glynn
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
| | - JoAnn Manson
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
| | - Julie Buring
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
| | - J Gaziano
- Division of Preventive Medicine Brigham and Women's HospitalBostonMassachusettsUnited States
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Christen W, Radcliffe P, Przystawik A, Diederich T, Tiggesbäumker J. Argon Solvent Effects on Optical Properties of Silver Metal Clusters. J Phys Chem A 2011; 115:8779-82. [DOI: 10.1021/jp200487s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. Christen
- Institut für Chemie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany, and
| | - P. Radcliffe
- Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - A. Przystawik
- Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - Th. Diederich
- Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany
| | - J. Tiggesbäumker
- Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Luria
- Sackler School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - W. Christen
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Berlin, Germany
| | - U. Even
- Sackler School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Papadaki T, Iaccheri B, Fiore T, Zacharopoulos I, Thadani S, Christen W, Androudi S, Foster CS. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels do not correlate with an associated systemic disease in patients with uveitis. Acta Ophthalmol 2010; 88:e28-9. [PMID: 19493254 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.01422.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
Background Scleritis is a potentially blinding inflammatory disorder. Standard care consists of systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppresants. The authors describe a series of 10 patients suffering from scleritis treated with the TNF inhibitor infliximab because this scleritis was refractory to standard therapy. Methods The authors reviewed the medical records of patients with scleritis at the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, treated with infliximab. All cases had non-infectious scleritis refractory to traditional immunomodulatory therapy and received 5 mg/kg of infliximab at 4–8-weekly intervals. The main outcome measures evaluated were clinical response, reduction in concomitant immunomodulatory therapy and adverse effects. Inflammation control and visual acuity were assessed using life-table methods. Results A favourable clinical response to infliximab was seen in 100% of the patients, with six (60%) of them achieving remission and cessation of concomitant immunosuppression. A clinical response to infliximab therapy occurred within 13.24 weeks on average. Based on clinical response, the authors found that repeat monthly infusions were required to maintain remission. One (10%) patient developed a lupus-like reaction necessitating discontinuation of infliximab. Conclusion Infliximab may be considered in the treatment of non-infectious scleritis refractory to other treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Doctor
- Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the development of age-related cataract in a trial of beta-carotene supplementation in women. METHODS The Women's Health Study is a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial originally designed to test the balance of benefits and risks of beta-carotene (50 mg on alternate days), vitamin E, and aspirin in the primary prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease among 39,876 female health professionals aged 45 years or older. The beta-carotene component of the trial was terminated early after a median treatment duration of 2.1 years. Main outcome measures were visually-significant cataract and cataract extraction, based on self-report confirmed by medical record review. RESULTS There were 129 cataracts in the beta-carotene group and 133 in the placebo group (relative risk [RR] = 0.95, 95% CI 0.75-1.21). For cataract extraction, there were 94 cases in the beta-carotene group and 89 cases in the placebo group (RR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.78-1.39). Subgroup analyses suggested a possible beneficial effect of beta-carotene in smokers. CONCLUSIONS These randomized trial data from a large population of apparently healthy female health professionals indicate that two years of beta-carotene treatment has no large beneficial or harmful effect on the development of cataract during the treatment period.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Christen
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Sobrin L, Christen W, Foster CS. Mycophenolate Mofetil after Methotrexate Failure or Intolerance in the Treatment of Scleritis and Uveitis. Ophthalmology 2008; 115:1416-21, 1421.e1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2007.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2007] [Revised: 12/05/2007] [Accepted: 12/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the outcomes for daclizumab in the treatment of birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) refractory to traditional immunomodulatory therapy (IMT). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 8 patients with BSCR whose disease was refractory to or who were intolerant of traditional IMT. All patients received 1 mg/kg of daclizumab intravenously at 2-week intervals initially at 1 referral uveitis practice. Main outcome measures were changes in visual acuity, vitreous inflammation, fluorescein angiographic pathologic features, electroretinography (ERG) parameters, concomitant IMT requirements, and adverse events. RESULTS Over a mean follow-up of 25.6 months, 7 patients had either stabilization or improvement in visual acuity of both eyes and complete resolution of vitreous inflammation. Six patients had resolution of vasculitis on fluorescein angiography. The ERG 30-Hz implicit times and the bright scotopic amplitudes worsened in some patients despite abolition of clinically evident inflammation. Four patients were able to discontinue all other IMT and remain inflammation free while receiving only daclizumab treatment. Two patients developed adverse effects that led to daclizumab treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Daclizumab therapy was effective in stabilizing vision and decreasing inflammation in most patients with BSCR. The ERG parameters continued to decline in some patients despite adequate inflammatory control. Regular serologic monitoring is critical to detect adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Sobrin
- Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, 5 Cambridge Center, Eighth Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Letko E, Gürcan HM, Papaliodis GN, Christen W, Foster CS, Ahmed AR. Relative risk for cancer in mucous membrane pemphigoid associated with antibodies to the beta4 integrin subunit. Clin Exp Dermatol 2007; 32:637-41. [PMID: 17524068 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007.02463.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a mucocutaneous vesiculobullous autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies to components of the basement membrane zone (BMZ). Recently, it has been reported that patients with MMP who have autoantibodies to laminin 5, known as anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid (AECP) have a high incidence of malignancy. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the association between malignancy and MMP in patients with antibodies to beta4 integrin. METHODS The incidence of cancer was studied in 79 patients with MMP and/or ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) who had antibodies to human beta4 integrin subunit. In each patient, the diagnosis was made by histology and confirmed by immunopathology of affected tissues. It was compared to the expected incidence, for age- and gender-matched individuals, in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (NCISEER) database. RESULTS Of 79 patients, 3 had cancer. The relative risk (RR) for cancer in patients with MMP and/or OCP, with autoantibodies to human beta4 integrin subunit was 0.29 (95% CI 0.62-8.77). The expected number in the NCISEER database was 10.37. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION This incidence of cancer in MMP/OCP patients, with antibodies to human beta4 integrin subunit is considerably lower than expected. Preliminary observations in this and other studies suggest that serological subsets of MMP, based on antigen reactivity, have a different clinical course, prognosis and associations with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Letko
- Immunology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Sobrin L, Kim EC, Christen W, Papadaki T, Letko E, Foster CS. Infliximab Therapy for the Treatment of Refractory Ocular Inflammatory Disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 125:895-900. [PMID: 17620567 DOI: 10.1001/archopht.125.7.895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report the outcomes of infliximab therapy in the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease refractory to traditional immunomodulatory therapy (IMT). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 27 patients. All patients had noninfectious ocular inflammatory disease refractory to traditional IMT and received 5 mg/kg of infliximab at 2-week to 8-week intervals. Main outcome measures were clinical response, reduction in concomitant IMT, and adverse effects. Cumulative incidences of inflammation control and vision change were calculated using life-table methods. RESULTS Twenty-one patients experienced sustained improvement in inflammation with their initial course of infliximab therapy. Cumulative incidence of inflammation resolution at 12 months was greater than 90%. Sixteen patients were able to decrease the dose of their concomitant IMT medication or stop all other IMT. Four patients were able to discontinue all other IMT while receiving infliximab therapy. Three patients with scleritis were eventually able to remain inflammation-free while not taking any medication. At 12 months, 56% and 65% of left and right eyes, respectively, showed visual acuity improvement by 2 or more Snellen lines. Only 1 patient developed an adverse event requiring therapy discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS We found a high rate of ocular inflammation control with infliximab therapy. The incidence of adverse effects in this study was low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Sobrin
- Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Cordero Coma M, Sobrin L, Onal S, Christen W, Foster CS. Intravitreal bevacizumab for treatment of uveitic macular edema. Ophthalmology 2007; 114:1574-1579.e1. [PMID: 17363060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2006.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2006] [Revised: 11/20/2006] [Accepted: 11/21/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to uveitis. DESIGN Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS Thirteen patients undergoing treatment for recalcitrant uveitic macular edema at one referral center. METHODS Charts of patients who received one 2.5-mg intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in one eye were reviewed for clinical information including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity (VA), examination findings, optical coherence tomography (OCT) results, and fluorescein angiography results. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate probability success rates. The statistical significance of change in mean retinal thickness and VA was assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Assessments of changes in best-corrected Snellen VA and OCT retinal thickness were made. RESULTS Six (46.15%) patients had a decrease in foveal thickness at the end of the follow-up, whereas 5 (38.4%) patients had an improvement of VA by > or =2 lines 84 days or more after the injection. Mean retinal thickness showed a significant decrease over the follow-up (P<0.02). The change in mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA over the follow-up was not significant (P>0.05). Survival analysis showed that the probability of any improvement in VA increased progressively starting at 6 weeks and reached 81% at 14 weeks. No significant ocular or systemic adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab is well tolerated and is associated with short-term improvement in VA and decreased OCT retinal thickness in a considerable proportion of patients with uveitic CME resistant to conventional therapy. Further evaluation of intravitreal bevacizumab for uveitic CME in controlled randomized studies is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cordero Coma
- Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucous membrane pemphigoid is an autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease. A subset, known as anti-epiligrin cicatricial pemphigoid is associated with a high risk for malignancy. Oral pemphigoid (OP) is limited to the oral cavity. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between malignancy and patients with OP with antibodies to alpha6-integrin subunit. METHODS We determined the incidence of cancer in 72 patients with OP and compared it to the expected incidence using age and sex-specific rates of malignancy in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (NCI SEER) Registry. RESULTS During a mean observation period of 9.1 years (range: 2.8-40), for 70, three OP patients developed malignancies. The expected number of cancers based on the NCI SEER Registry was 8.83. The relative risk for cancer in OP patients, with autoantibodies to alpha6-integrin, was 0.34 (95% CI, 0.07-0.99, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION It appears that patients with OP, with antibodies to alpha6, may have a possible reduced relative risk for developing cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Malik
- Department of Medicine, New England Baptist Hospital, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Perez VL, Papaliodis GN, Chu D, Anzaar F, Christen W, Foster CS. Elevated levels of interleukin 6 in the vitreous fluid of patients with pars planitis and posterior uveitis: the Massachusetts eye & ear experience and review of previous studies. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2004; 12:193-201. [PMID: 15385196 DOI: 10.1080/092739490500282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although the exact mechanisms that lead to uveitis are not entirely known, the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of this disease has been shown to be important. Prior studies described the presence of an array of cytokines in the intraocular fluid of patients with uveitis. Review of these studies indicate that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is present, and animal data suggest the important role of IL-6 in the regulation of ophthalmologic immune responses. PURPOSE We investigated whether IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, beta, IL-2 are present in the vitreous of patients with active intermediate and posterior uveitis. METHODS Vitreous specimens were collected from 23 eyes of patients with active intermediate and posterior uveitis who underwent diagnostic or therapeutic vitrectomies. TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha and beta, IL-2 and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Eight vitreous fluid samples from eye bank eyes were used as control. RESULTS IL-6 was higher in the vitreous of patients with uveitis compared to control samples (p = 0.0119). No TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL1-alpha or beta was detected. The levels of IL-6 did not correlate with a specific clinical diagnosis, but patients with pars planitis and panuveitis had the highest levels (p = 0.58) CONCLUSIONS IL-6 is elevated in the vitreous of patients with active intermediate and posterior uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor L Perez
- Immunology and Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Letko E, Miserocchi E, Daoud YJ, Christen W, Foster CS, Ahmed AR. A nonrandomized comparison of the clinical outcome of ocular involvement in patients with mucous membrane (cicatricial) pemphigoid between conventional immunosuppressive and intravenous immunoglobulin therapies. Clin Immunol 2004; 111:303-10. [PMID: 15183151 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2003.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2003] [Accepted: 11/06/2003] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy to conventional immunosuppressive therapy in patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), also known as cicatricial pemphigoid (CP), whose disease progressed to involve the eye. Before ocular involvement, all the patients in this study were diagnosed and treated with immunosuppressive agents, for biopsy-proven MMP, affecting the skin and/or mucous membranes, other than the conjunctiva. Eight patients in group A were treated with IVIg after the diagnosis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) was established. The efficacy and safety of IVIg therapy were compared to a clinically similar group of eight patients treated with conventional immunosuppressive therapy (group B). The inclusion criteria for both groups were: (1). presence of MMP at extraocular sites confirmed by biopsy before entry into the study; (2). entry into the study occurred when ocular involvement was noted and confirmed by biopsy; (3). presence of conventional immunosuppressive therapy at the time of ocular involvement; (4). a minimum of 18 months of follow-up after diagnosis of ocular involvement. The mean length of the therapy, after the onset of ocular involvement, was 24 months (range 16-30) in group A and 45 months (range 21-90) in group B. The median time between initiation of therapy and clinical remission in group A and group B was 4 and 8.5 months, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). No recurrence of ocular inflammation was recorded in any of the patients in group A. On the contrary, at least one recurrence (median 1) was recorded in five patients in group B (range 0-4). This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All eight patients in group A and group B presented to the ophthalmologist in stage 2 of OCP at the time of the initial visit. At the last follow-up visit, no progression to advanced stages of OCP was recorded in all eight patients in group A. On the contrary, only four patients in group B remained in stage 2 of OCP at the last follow-up exam. The conjunctival scaring progressed from stage 2 to stage 3 in the remaining four patients of group B. At the last follow-up visit, both eyes of each patient in group A were free of inflammation. Some level of conjunctival inflammation at the last follow-up visit was noted in five patients in group B (range 0-1.5, P < 0.05). Both groups of patients were studied during the same time period. The results of this study suggest that ocular involvement in patients with MMP may be considered an indication for initiating IVIg therapy, since it was more effective in arresting progression of OCP, when compared to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. These data indicate that IVIg produced a faster control of the acute inflammation and that no recurrences were observed during the follow-up. This clinical difference could be because of the reduced production of pathogenic antibody, and/or restoration of the immunoregulation, which may have been disturbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Letko
- Immunology and Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Akpek EK, Dart JK, Watson S, Christen W, Dursun D, Yoo S, O'Brien TP, Schein OD, Gottsch JD. A randomized trial of topical cyclosporin 0.05% in topical steroid–resistant atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Ophthalmology 2004; 111:476-82. [PMID: 15019322 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2003.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2002] [Accepted: 05/23/2003] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of topical cyclosporin A 0.05% in the treatment of patients with severe, steroid-resistant atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). DESIGN Multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-masked, randomized trial. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two patients with AKC refractory to topical steroid treatment. INTERVENTION Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with topical 0.05% cyclosporin A eyedrops or a placebo (artificial tears) for a period of 28 days, 6 times daily during the first 2 weeks and 4 times daily during the last 2 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Symptoms (itching, tearing, discomfort, mucous discharge, and photophobia) and signs (bulbar conjunctival hyperemia, upper tarsal conjunctival papillae, punctate keratitis, corneal neovascularization, cicatrizing conjunctivitis, and blepharitis) of AKC recorded on the day of enrollment and at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS A composite score computed by summing the severity grade over all 5 symptoms and 6 signs of AKC for each patient indicated a greater improvement in the cyclosporin A group relative to the placebo at the end of the 4-week treatment period (P = 0.048 and P = 0.002, for symptoms and signs, respectively). No adverse effects of the treatment with cyclosporin A 0.05% eyedrops were observed. CONCLUSIONS Topical cyclosporin A 0.05% seems to be safe and have some effect in alleviating signs and symptoms of severe AKC refractory to topical steroid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esen Karamursel Akpek
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Maumenee Building #321, Baltimore, MD 21287-9238, USA.
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Androudi S, Brazitikos P, Iaccheri B, Fiore T, Christen W, Meniconi M, Foster CS. Outcomes of early and late immunomodulatory treatment in patients with HLA-B27-associated chronic uveitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2003; 241:1000-5. [PMID: 14605907 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-003-0789-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2003] [Revised: 09/02/2003] [Accepted: 09/17/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the outcomes of early versus late immunomodulatory treatment (IMT) in patients with HLA-B27-associated chronic uveitis. METHODS Seventy-two patients (114 eyes) with HLA-B27-associated chronic uveitis received IMT at the Ocular Immunology & Uveitis Service of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and were evaluated retrospectively. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, control of inflammation, number of flare-ups and steroid-sparing effect. RESULTS The median time between diagnosis and start of IMT was 3.05 years. Accordingly, patients were divided into two groups: group A comprised those in whom initiation of IMT was within the first 3 years (36 patients), and in group B initiation of IMT was more than 3 years from the initial diagnosis (36 patients). Control of inflammation was achieved in 29 patients (80.5%) of the early-treated group and in 33 patients (91.6%) of the late-treated group. A steroid-sparing effect was achieved for 13 (81.25%) of the 16 and for 11 (73.33%) of the 15 patients who were on systemic steroid in the early- and late-treated groups respectively. The mean follow-up for the early-treated group was 2.14 years and for the late-treated group, 3.46 years. CONCLUSIONS Immunomodulatory therapy is an effective treatment for severe HLA-B27 uveitis that fails to respond to conventional steroid treatment, regardless of the timing of its initiation. However, introduction of IMT within 3 years of the disease onset prevents the adverse effects of steroids (cataract, glaucoma) and reduces the likelihood of repeated recurrences of the uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Androudi
- Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114-3069, USA
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Akpek EK, Altan-Yaycioglu R, Karadayi K, Christen W, Stark WJ. Long-term outcomes of combined penetrating keratoplasty with iris-sutured intraocular lens implantation. Ophthalmology 2003; 110:1017-22. [PMID: 12750106 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(03)00097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the long-term outcomes of combined penetrating keratoplasty with iris-sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. PARTICIPANTS Patients (264 eyes) with aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. DESIGN Retrospective case series. INTERVENTION Penetrating keratoplasty combined with implantation of an iris-sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens performed by a single surgeon. METHODS Data were gathered from the institutional database during a period of 10 years (1989-1999) and analyzed using customized software. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Graft survival rate, visual acuity, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS Two-hundred fifty-two consecutive patients (264 eyes) were operated. Graft survival rates were 95% at 1 year, 89% at 2 years, and 81% at 5 years and were comparable to the results of previous corneal transplant studies. Among 180 patients (191 eyes) with a follow-up of at least 2 years (range, 2-11 years; mean, 5 years), the visual acuity at final follow-up visit, compared with preoperative visual acuity was improved in 72% of eyes (mean preoperative visual acuity, 20/250; mean postoperative visual acuity, 20/60). No intraoperative complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS Combined penetrating keratoplasty with iris-sutured posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation offers significant vision benefits in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esen Karamursel Akpek
- The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Miserocchi E, Waheed NK, Dios E, Christen W, Merayo J, Roque M, Foster CS. Visual outcome in herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus uveitis: a clinical evaluation and comparison. Ophthalmology 2002; 109:1532-7. [PMID: 12153807 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(02)01113-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with uveitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). DESIGN Retrospective comparative study. PARTICIPANTS Forty patients with HSV uveitis and 24 patients with VZV uveitis. METHODS A retrospective study of 40 patients with HSV and 24 patients with VZV uveitis was performed. The patients were followed between May 1987 and September 1999 (median follow-up time, 46 months). The diagnosis of HSV uveitis was made clinically and serologically, and the diagnosis of VZV uveitis was made clinically. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical presentation of the disease, ocular complications, visual acuity, surgical and medical treatments needed. RESULTS Both populations were comparable for gender and age at disease onset. The course of the disease tended to be remitting and recurrent in HSV patients and chronic in VZV patients (P = 0.046). The most frequent ocular complication in both groups was secondary glaucoma (54% HSV, 38% VZV). Twenty-five percent of VZV patients developed posterior pole complications (cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, papillitis, retinal fibrosis, and detachment) compared with 8% of HSV patients (P = 0.069). Treatment modalities selected were generally similar in the two groups, although periocular and systemic steroids were required more frequently in HSV patients (60% versus 25%; P = 0.01). Surgical procedures were required with similar frequency in both populations. The percentage of eyes that were legally blind at end of follow-up was also comparable (HSV, 20%; VZV, 21%). The visual outcome was similar in the studied populations. CONCLUSIONS This study represents the only direct comparison of HSV and VZV uveitis patients reported in the literature. HSV patients were more likely to be treated with periocular and systemic steroids, and VZV patients were more likely to develop posterior pole complications (a finding of borderline significance). Other parameters evaluated in this study were not statistically different in the two patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Miserocchi
- Immunology and Uveitis Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the effect of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with intermediate uveitis. METHODS Retrospective analysis of the clinical course and visual outcome following pars plana vitrectomy in patients with intermediate uveitis. RESULTS Thirty-two patients (43 eyes) were included in the study. Pars plana vitrectomy was combined with cataract surgery in 22 of 43 eyes. The intermediate uveitis was associated with sarcoidosis in 16 eyes and multiple sclerosis in five eyes, and was idiopathic in 22 eyes. The mean (+/-SD) follow-up was 45.6 (+/-38) months (range: 6-146 months). In 19 of 43 eyes (44.1%), there was improvement in the course of uveitis, allowing the discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment in seven patients. Cystoid macular edema resolved in 12 of 37 eyes (32.4%). Forty of 43 eyes achieved a better or retained their initial visual acuity. The remaining three eyes deteriorated by two or more lines in the Snellen chart due to the progression of cataract, chronic cystoid macular edema, and glaucomatous optic atrophy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that pars plana vitrectomy may have a beneficial effect on the course of uveitis and the associated complications of cystoid macular edema, thereby reducing the need for long-term immunosuppression. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with simultaneous cataract surgery can improve the visual outcome in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Stavrou
- Immunology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the efficacy of medical treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with uveitis. METHODS Retrospective study of 40 patients (57 eyes) with uveitis and CME. Inclusion criteria were presence of CME with minimal and no macular pathology, or vascular disease which could account for CME. Patients who had undergone intraocular surgery or had visual acuity (VA) of > or = 20/40 were excluded. The diagnosis of CME was based on clinical and/or angiographic findings. Three treatment groups were defined: (1) transseptal injection of steroids (n=13 eyes); (2) systemic non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (n=11 eyes); both 1 and 2 (n=33 eyes). RESULTS Overall, 79% of eyes improved 3 or more lines of Snellen VA after treatment: 51% improved 4 or more lines. The average number of lines improved was 3.8 for eyes treated with transseptal injections of steroids, 2.9 for eyes treated with NSAIDs, and 4 for eyes treated with both. For all 3 treatment groups between 60-70% of eyes improving 2 or more lines reached best VA only after a minimum of 6 months of follow up. CONCLUSIONS CME, a vision threatening complication of uveitis, respond fairly well to medical treatment; however, the best VA is achieved after several months. The improvement in VA did not differ markedly among the three treatment groups.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Anterior Chamber/pathology
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Child
- Drug Administration Routes
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Fluorescein Angiography
- Fundus Oculi
- Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage
- Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use
- Humans
- Macula Lutea/pathology
- Macular Edema/complications
- Macular Edema/diagnosis
- Macular Edema/drug therapy
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Recurrence
- Retrospective Studies
- Uveitis, Anterior/complications
- Uveitis, Anterior/diagnosis
- Uveitis, Anterior/drug therapy
- Uveitis, Intermediate/complications
- Uveitis, Intermediate/diagnosis
- Uveitis, Intermediate/drug therapy
- Uveitis, Posterior/complications
- Uveitis, Posterior/diagnosis
- Uveitis, Posterior/drug therapy
- Visual Acuity
- Vitreous Body/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rojas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for the management of glaucoma associated with chronic uveitis. DESIGN Retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS Nineteen patients (21 eyes) with chronic uveitis underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for uncontrolled glaucoma between 1995 and 1998. INTERVENTION All patients had their uveitis controlled before surgery via immunomodulatory therapy. Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation was performed. Immunosuppression was continued in the early postoperative period for strict control of inflammation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Control of intraocular pressure (IOP). A secondary outcome measure was the number of antiglaucoma medications required to achieve the desired IOP. Visual acuity and complications associated with the surgery were monitored. RESULTS The postoperative follow-up averaged 24.5 months. At the most recent visit, all 21 eyes had IOPs between 5 and 18 mmHg. The average pressure reduction after Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation was 23.7 mmHg. The average number of antiglaucoma medicines required to achieve the desired IOP was reduced from 3.5 before surgery to 0.6 after surgery. No eye lost even a single line of Snellen acuity at the most recent postoperative visit. Two eyes developed hypotony in the course of follow-up. One resolved without specific intervention, and the other eye required two autologous blood injections and tube ligature to correct the hypotony. One eye underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve replacement for abrupt valve failure. Two eyes underwent penetrating keratoplasty for reasons believed to be unrelated to the glaucoma surgery. Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis showed a cumulative probability of success after Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation of 94% at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation can be an effective and safe method in the management of uveitic glaucoma. The authors hypothesize that control of the patients' uveitis, through preoperative and long-term postoperative immunomodulatory therapy, may have contributed to the success rate reported herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Da Mata
- Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
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Sangwan VS, Akpek EK, Voo I, Zhao T, Pinar V, Yang J, Christen W, Baltatzis S, Wild R, Foster CS. Krill protease effects on wound healing after corneal alkali burn. Cornea 1999; 18:707-11. [PMID: 10571303 DOI: 10.1097/00003226-199911000-00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study the effect of a novel protease in the development and progression of corneal ulceration secondary to alkali burning. METHODS By using a 4N alkali burn model of corneal ulceration in rabbits, the effects and efficacy of topical application of a novel protease (PHM-101) capable of degrading metalloproteinases was studied for 28 days of treatment and 7 days off treatment for its effect on corneal ulceration and recurrent erosion. RESULTS At day 28, both the protease- and placebo-treated groups had different numbers of eyes showing reepithelialization (nine (45%) of 20 and six (33%) of 18, respectively]. By day 35 the protease-treated group had significantly fewer recurrent epithelial defects [two (13%) of 15 vs. eight (61%) of 13; p = 0.02]. Similarly, at day 35 the protease-treated group showed significantly less corneal ulceration [two (13%) of 15 vs. six (46%) of 13; p = 0.02], and those ulcers were of a lesser severity (three units vs. 17.76 units). No difference was found in the degree of stromal edema or neovascularization, nor was there any difference in histopathologic characteristics of inflammatory cell infiltration and corneal scarring. CONCLUSION We conclude that this novel protease is efficient in reducing recurrent corneal epithelial defects and stromal ulceration after alkali burning.
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Affiliation(s)
- V S Sangwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze patient characteristics and correlate between the site and severity of the inflammation and ocular and/or systemic disease association in a cohort of patients with episcleritis. DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Medical records of 100 patients with episcleritis were reviewed. Data were analyzed using a customized database software. RESULTS The age range at presentation was 18 to 76 years (mean, 43; median, 44). Sixty-nine percent of the patients were female. Thirty-two (32%) patients had bilateral involvement. The episcleritis was nodular in 23 eyes (16%). Half of the patients had a concurrent eye disease. Associated systemic disease was found in 36 patients (36%). In two patients, episcleritis preceded a systemic vasculitic disease (Wegener granulomatosis and Cogan syndrome). Ocular complications included uveitis (11.4%), corneal involvement (15%), and glaucoma (7.8%). No significant correlation of the site and severity of inflammation to the presence of associated systemic or ocular diseases was found. The mean follow-up was 16.5 months. Twenty-eight patients experienced recurrence of episcleritis during the follow-up. Half of the patients required treatment with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. CONCLUSIONS Episcleritis is usually a benign, self-limited disease, but it should not be trivialized since it may be associated with systemic disease and ocular complications. A careful review of systems should be performed in all patients presenting with episcleritis, and this should be repeated at least annually during the follow-up. A thorough eye examination is obviously essential to detect and treat ocular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Akpek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA
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el-Shabrawi Y, Livir-Rallatos C, Christen W, Baltatzis S, Foster CS. High levels of interleukin-12 in the aqueous humor and vitreous of patients with uveitis. Ophthalmology 1998; 105:1659-63. [PMID: 9754174 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(98)99035-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in initiation and maintenance of intraocular inflammation. DESIGN Case series. PARTICIPANTS Aqueous humor and vitreous levels of IL-12 and IL-10 were measured in 22 patients with uveitis undergoing cataract surgery, paracentesis of the anterior chamber, and/or vitrectomy for diagnostic reasons, and in 4 patients with cataract only. INTERVENTION Aqueous humor and vitreous levels of IL-12 and IL-10 were measured with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Disease activity was correlated to IL-12 levels in the aqueous humor and the vitreous of patients with uveitis. RESULTS Cytokine levels found in the anterior chamber and the vitreous are presented in picogram/milliliter (medium; range). The highest IL-12 levels were found in patients with active uveitis (108.5 pg/ml; 72-293 pg/ml). Interleukin-12 in patients with moderate uveitis or with their disease in remission was lower (32 pg/ml; 15-94 pg/ml) than in patients with active disease (P > 0.001) but higher than in the control group (10.5 pg/ml; 9-14 pg/ml). Interleukin-10 was detectable in only 3 of 22 patients with uveitis (12 pg/ml; 9-23 pg/ml). CONCLUSION The authors found statistically significant differences of IL-12 levels in the various patient groups (active vs. inactive vs. control). These results support the idea that these uveitis cases represent type 1 (Th1)-T lymphocyte-mediated diseases in which IL-12 plays a pivotal role in the initiation and maintenance of the intraocular inflammation. The high levels of IL-12 in the vitreous and/or aqueous humor of the patients with uveitis suggest that susceptibility or resistance to ocular autoimmunity may be connected to a genetic predisposition to an elevated Th1 response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y el-Shabrawi
- Uveitis and Immunology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
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Christen W, Even U, Raz T, Levine RD. Collisional energy loss in cluster surface impact: Experimental, model, and simulation studies of some relevant factors. J Chem Phys 1998. [DOI: 10.1063/1.476487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Tesavibul N, Dorfman D, Sangwan VS, Christen W, Panayotis Z, Rojas B, Foster CS. Costimulatory molecules in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1998; 39:982-8. [PMID: 9579477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine normal and inflamed conjunctiva from patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) for the presence of costimulatory molecule CD28 and its ligands B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). METHODS Conjunctival biopsy specimens from 12 patients with OCP and from five healthy persons undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed by light microscopy and immunohistochemical examination with monoclonal antibody probes for CD28, B7-1, and B7-2 molecules and for mononuclear cell subtypes. RESULTS Epithelium of OCP conjunctiva showed more Langerhans' cells, B7-1-positive (+) cells, and B7-2 expression (ratio of B7-2-positive cells to antigen-presenting cells). In the substantia propria, OCP specimens showed significantly increased numbers of T cells (CD3 +), macrophages (CD68+), CD28+ cells, B7-2+ cells (CD86+), Langerhans' cells (CD1a), and B7-1+ cells (CD80). Most of the B7-2+ cells, macrophages, and Langerhans' cells were located subepithelially. B7-2 expression was significantly higher in OCP conjunctival substantia propria compared with normal conjunctiva. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that the expression of the costimulatory molecule B7-2 is upregulated in conjunctiva of patients with active OCP. This increased subepithelial B7-2 expression may contribute to the sustained immune activation in OCP conjunctiva.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Tesavibul
- Uveitis and Immunology Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston 02114, USA
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Chatzistefanou K, Markomichelakis NN, Christen W, Soheilian M, Foster CS. Characteristics of uveitis presenting for the first time in the elderly. Ophthalmology 1998; 105:347-52. [PMID: 9479298 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(98)93523-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of uveitis presenting de novo in the elderly. DESIGN The study design was a description of a retrospectively identified case series. PARTICIPANTS A population of 138 patients (209 eyes) with uveitis beginning after age 60 was analyzed. RESULTS Uveitis in the elderly accounted for 10.4% of the authors' uveitis population. The localization of uveitis was anterior in 56.5% of patients, intermediate uveitis was diagnosed in two patients (1.4%), posterior uveitis was found in 25.4%, while 16.7% of patients presented with panuveitis. Idiopathic uveitis accounted for the majority of cases (31.2%), whereas herpes zoster ophthalmicus (11.6%), herpes simplex virus (6.5%), presumed sarcoidosis (5.8%), syphilis (4.3%) ankylosing spondylitis (4.3%), and birdshot chorioretinopathy (3.6%) were the most frequent specific diagnostic entities. Secondary elevation of intraocular pressure was common (67 eyes, or 32%). The development of macular edema complicated 28.7% of cases (60 eyes). Two cases of intraocular lymphoma were identified in 19 diagnostic vitreous biopsy specimens. Fifty-two percent of eyes retained visual acuity of 20/40 or more; 32.6% had final visual acuity worse than 20/100. CONCLUSIONS Uveitis presenting for the first time in the elderly is not uncommon. Idiopathic uveitis accounts for the majority of cases, and herpes zoster ophthalmicus and herpes simplex virus are particularly prevalent. Intraocular lymphoma does not predominate in this age group. With adequate control of intraocular inflammation and its sequelae, the visual prognosis in patients in this age group with uveitis is relatively good.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Chatzistefanou
- Ophthalmology Department, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114-3069, USA
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Lane L, Tamesis R, Rodriguez A, Christen W, Akova YA, Messmer E, Pedroza-Seres M, Barney N, Foster CS. Systemic immunosuppressive therapy and the occurrence of malignancy in patients with ocular inflammatory disease. Ophthalmology 1995; 102:1530-5. [PMID: 9097802 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(95)30835-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the occurrence of malignancy in patients with severe ocular inflammatory disease treated with systemic corticosteroids alone or with systemic immunosuppressive drugs with or without systemic corticosteroids. METHODS The clinical records of 543 patients with ocular inflammatory disease treated with systemic corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive chemotherapy were reviewed in a retrospective cohort study. Characteristics of patients treated with corticosteroids alone were compared with characteristics of patients treated with immunosuppressive agents with or without preceding corticosteroid treatment. The rates of malignancy after initiation of drug therapy were compared using an exact test for incidence rate data. RESULTS Compared with patients treated with corticosteroids alone, patients treated with immunosuppressants with or without corticosteroid treatment were older and had more severe systemic disease. During a total of 1261 person-years of follow-up, a malignancy developed in five patients. The rate of malignancy in the immunosuppressant group (4 malignancies during 968 person-years of follow-up) was not significantly different from the rate in the corticosteroids alone group (1 malignancy during 293 person-years of follow-up) (P > 0.90, exact test for incidence rate data). CONCLUSION These findings do not support the hypothesis of an increased risk of malignancy in patients with severe ocular inflammatory disease who are treated with systemic immunosuppressive agents compared with patients treated with systemic corticosteroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lane
- Immunology & Uveitis Service, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association of distant vision and physical function in the population of older adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional and cohort study. PARTICIPANTS 5143 older residents of three communities (Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly) who were interviewed in 1988-89, including residents of two communities who were re-interviewed 15 months later (n = 3133, 97% of those eligible). MEASURES Visual acuity screening, self-reported activities of daily living and mobility, and objective physical performance measures of balance, walking, and rising from a chair. RESULTS Limitations in mobility, activities of daily living, and physical performance were associated with worse visual function. In prospective analyses controlling for potential confounders, participants with severe visual impairment had 3-fold higher odds of incident mobility and activity of daily living limitations than those with acuity of 20/40 or better (P < 0.001). In prospective analyses investigating the relationship of vision with improvement in function, those with poor vision were about half as likely to improve as those with better acuity, but this relationship was only statistically significant for improvement in mobility limitations. CONCLUSIONS Distant visual function appears to play an important role in physical function, particularly for mobility. An intervention to improve vision in at-risk elders might preserve function and prevent disability; this warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Salive
- Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Salive ME, Guralnik J, Christen W, Glynn RJ, Colsher P, Ostfeld AM. Functional blindness and visual impairment in older adults from three communities. Ophthalmology 1992; 99:1840-7. [PMID: 1480401 DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31715-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to examine the association of sociodemographic factors with functional blindness and visual impairment in an aged population. METHODS Three population-based cohorts (East Boston, MA; New Haven, CT; and Iowa and Washington Counties, IA) of persons aged 71 years and older were screened for bilateral functional near and distant vision during an in-home interview in 1988. RESULTS Screening was completed by 5335 participants. The prevalence of functional blindness increased with age, from 1% at age 71 to 74 years to 17% in those 90 years of age and older. Functional visual impairment increased from 7% at age 71 to 74 years to 39% in those 90 years of age and older. In multivariate analyses, residence in a nursing home, older age, glaucoma, insulin-requiring diabetes at baseline, East Boston site, history of cataract, and lower 1982 income were independent and significantly associated with both functional blindness and visual impairment. Age and nursing home residence were significantly (P < 0.05) more strongly associated with blindness (odds ratios 4.8 and 6.1, respectively) than they were with visual impairment. CONCLUSION Functional blindness and visual impairment are quite prevalent among the oldest old and the institutionalized. The number of affected individuals will increase as the population ages and life expectancy increases. Although visual problems are associated with aging, nursing home residence, health problems, and socioeconomic conditions, they may be readily remediable and may lead to immediate improvements in quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Salive
- Epidemiology, Demography and Biometry Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892
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