Health-related quality of life in Behçet patients with ocular involvement

PURPOSE

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome factor in chronic diseases such as Behçet syndrome. We aimed to investigate the relation of HRQOL to the duration of illness, mental state, and visual acuity of patients with Behçet syndrome.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional clinical trial of 45 consecutive Behçet patients with ocular involvement. The control group consisted of an age-, sex-, and education-matched group of 45 healthy individuals. All patients and the controls had been given a complete ophthalmic examination. In addition, they completed a questionnaire comprising the SF-36 Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Eight multiple regression analyses were carried out in the patient group to determine whether total anxiety scores, total depression scores, duration of the disease, and visual acuity predicted the dependent variable SF-36 subscales.

RESULTS

Using the analysis of variance statistical method, comparisons of the patient and the control groups for depression, anxiety, and the subscales of the SF-36 Health Survey indicated a statistical significance for this battery of tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Behçet patients with ocular involvement are susceptible to anxiety and depression when compared to age and sex matched controls. It is important for the ophthalmologist to know that changes in the mental state of his patient may trigger a new ocular attack, and to be aware that these changes may play a critical role in the management and preventive measures for Behçet syndrome.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in children: report of a case and review of the literature

This article reviews the therapeutic approaches in children with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome, and reports on a 9-year-old girl with progressive visual loss due to VKH syndrome in spite of treatment. In previous reports, corticosteroids were found to be the most effective agents in the treatment of VKH syndrome, while combination therapies with cyclosporine, methotrexate, or azathioprine were used with favorable results in refractory cases. In the current case, none of the treatments sufficiently stabilized the vision, but triple combination of corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and methotrexate suppressed the relapses of intraocular inflammation. Treatment of children with VKH syndrome is challenging. Various treatment modalities have been reported with various responses, but there is still no definite treatment regimen, and the treatment is usually individualized in pediatric VKH cases.

Factors influencing treatment results in pseudophakic endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate risk factors, therapeutic approaches and factors associated with the poor visual outcome in pseudophakic endophthalmitis.

METHODS

Data related to 28 cases with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and IOL implantation were gathered retrospectively.

RESULTS

Preceding surgery was extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) in 18, phacoemulsification in 8 and scleral fixated intraocular lens implantation in two cases. Posterior capsule rupture and diabetes mellitus were considered to contribute to the development of endophthalmitis because of their high incidences (50% and 25%) in the study group. Microbiological studies from aqueous and vitreous humour were done in 85% of the cases and 58% were positive. S. Epidermidis was the most common organism, accounting for 50% of the isolates. All cases were given topical and systemic antibiotics. Inflammation was controlled by addition of subconjunctival antibiotics to this regimen in two, intravitreal antibiotic injection in 14, pars plana vitrectomy, total capsular and lens extraction and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three, lens exchange, intracapsular and intravitreal antibiotic injection in three cases. Six (21%) cases eventually needed evisceration. Visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 25%, and 20/100 or better in 64%.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment delay (p=0.039), capsular rupture complicating cataract surgery, especially with extracapsular cataract extraction (p=0.015), and initial visual acuity worse than hand motion (p=0.003) were strong predictors of poor visual outcome. The risk of endophthalmitis was not different forplanned ECCCE (0.26%) andphacoemulsification (0.27%) but the prognosis was better with the latter.

Comparison of autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography findings in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

AIM

To discuss and compare the fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in acute or chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).

METHODS

Medical records of 100 cases of CSCR were reviewed. Acute and chronic cases were evaluated according to the duration of decreased visual acuity, serous retinal detachment (RD) and focal leakage on fluorescein angiography (FA). Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Forty cases had acute and 60 cases had chronic CSCR. FAF showed focal hypo-autofluorescence in 34 (85%) and iso-autofluorescence in 6 (15%) of acute cases and hypo-autofluorescence in 51 (85%), hyper-autofluorescence in 6 (10%) and iso-autofluorescence in 3 (5%) of chronic cases. OCT showed serous RD with distinct borders correlated with FAF findings (hypo-autofluorescence) in all acute CSCR cases. In chronic CSCR group, OCT showed serous RD with indistinct borders correlated with FAF findings. The differences between the OCT and FAF findings of the two groups were significant (P=0.000).

CONCLUSION

OCT and FAF findings can support the clinical observations in differential diagnosis of acute and chronic CSCR and help clinicians to evaluate retinal pigment epithelium, outer segments of photoreceptors and the components of serous RD.

Evaluation of serum leptin concentration in Behçet's disease with ocular involvement

PURPOSE

To assess the correlation between the serum leptin concentration and ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease.

METHODS

The study included 28 male consecutive patients with Behçet's disease ( group A, aged 19-59, median 35.5 years) and 15 male healthy control subjects ( group B, aged 25-45, median 35 years). The body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject at the study enrollment stage. We measured serum leptin, neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The age and BMI between the patients with ocular Behçet's disease and the control group were not different. White cell count and ESR values were found to be significantly higher among patients with Behçet's disease and ocular involvement (p<0.001). The median serum leptin concentrations were as follows: group A: 2.66 (0.57-7.02 ng/ml) and in group B: 2.55 (1.55-7.82 ng/ml). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Serum leptin level does not correlate with ocular involvement in patients with Behçet's disease.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: clinical and demographic characteristics of patients in a specialized eye hospital in Turkey

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical and demographic features of Vogt-Kayanagi-Harada disease (VKH) disease in Turkish patients and compare them with previously published data.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical features of 32 patients diagnosed as VKH in a tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation was 33.6 ± 10.4 years. Seventy-five percent of the patients were female and 62.5% of the patients presented during the last 2 years. The disease was complete in 31.2%, incomplete in 50%, and probable in 18.8% of the patients. The clinical course was acute in 50%, chronic recurrent in 34.4%, and chronic in 15.6%. The most common findings were bilateral serous retinal detachment ± papillitis in acute cases and retinal pigment epithelial changes of the macula in chronic cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Although rare in Turkey, VKH disease seems to have increased during the last few years. The disease is incomplete and acute in half of the patients and has a quite good visual prognosis.

Nasotracheal intubation of a patient with restricted mouth opening using a McGrath MAC X-Blade and Magill forceps

We experienced a case of successful nasotracheal intubation using the X-Blade of the McGrath MAC in a 28-year-old woman with a 2.5-cm mouth opening. She had no teeth on the right side, her neck movement was limited, her mandibular protrusion was grade C, and her Mallampati could not be evaluated. Her tongue was fixed to the left wall during a previous surgery. We evaluated the awake glottic view using the McGrath MAC X-Blade and topical oral anesthesia. We obtained a Cormack-Lehane grade II view and then decided to administer general anesthesia. Intubation was attempted with a Macintosh laryngoscope, but we could not insert the scope deeply enough and there was no area in which to insert the Magill forceps or endotracheal tube. We then used the X-Blade 3 of the McGrath MAC and obtained a sufficient area in which to insert the tube and manipulate the Magill forceps. A laryngoscopic view was achieved in 7 s and nasotracheal intubation was performed in 16 s with a 7.0-mm spiral tube using the Magill forceps. McGrath MAC X-Blade can be used with the Magill forceps in patients with restricted mouth opening with careful patient selection, in experienced hands.

Unusual association of peripheral retinal ischemia-induced neovascular glaucoma and neurofibromatosis type 1

A 12-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 was referred for pain and blurred vision in her right eye for the past 2 weeks. Neovascular glaucoma associated with peripheral retinal ischemia was diagnosed and she was treated with retinal photocoagulation after intravitreal bevacizumab injection and trabeculectomy.

Autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography findings in optic disc pit-associated maculopathy: case series

The aim of this case series was to report and discuss the clinical, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of four eyes of three cases with optic disc pit (ODP)-related serous macular detachment. Three cases were referred to the retina department of our hospital for decreased visual acuities in four of their eyes. In addition to ophthalmological examinations, OCT and FAF were also performed. ODP-related serous macular detachment was detected clinically in all the eyes. OCT also showed two typical components named as 'bilaminar structure' in all eyes and OCT and FAF photography showed precipitates in the retinal outer layers of the detachment area in three eyes. OCT and autofluorescence photography findings can support clinical observations in the diagnosis of ODP-related maculopathy.

Topographic optic disc analysis by Heidelberg retinal tomography in ocular Behcet's disease

AIM

To compare the topographic characteristics of the optic discs in patients with severe and mild ocular Behçet's disease by using Heidelberg retinal tomographaphy (HRT).

METHODS

This prospective study included 47 eyes of 47 patients with ocular BD who were being followed-up at the Uveitis Clinic of the Ankara Ulucanlar Eye Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 21 eyes with mild uveitis, and group 2 consisted of 26 eyes with severe uveitis. All patients underwent topographic optic disc analysis by HRT II, and the quantitative optic disc parameters of both groups were compared by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The mean cup volume, rim volume, cup area, disc area and cup depth in group 1 were found to be statistically significantly greater than those in group 2 (p<0.0001, p = 0.03, p = 0.021, p = 0.01 and p = 0.017, respectively), while the difference between the mean cup-to-disc ratios in group 1 and group 2 were found to be statistically insignificant (p = 0.148).

CONCLUSION

A relationship was found between the severity of ocular BD and optic disc topography determined by HRT. In eyes with smaller optic discs, uveitis was observed to have a more severe course with more frequent relapses than those with larger discs.

Familial Mediterranean fever associated frosted branch angiitis, retinal vasculitis and vascular occlusion

OBJECTIVES

To analyse the entity of retinal vasculitis, including frosted branch angiitis (FBA), or retina vascular occlusion in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

METHODS

Retrospective collaborative case series using invitation by email to uveitis specialists around the Mediterranean basin. This series was combined with a literature review. Exclusion criteria included infectious diseases, Behçet's disease or other autoimmune diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients (21 eyes) had FMF and retinal vasculitis (FBA 11 patients, mild retinal vasculitis 5 patients). The mean age at onset of vasculitis was 29.5 ± 13.4 (range 9-62) with a female to male ratio of 9 to 7. In 19 eyes treated with various forms of corticosteroid and/or immunosuppression, the mean initial spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved from 6/194 to 6/10.5 at the last mean follow-up of 29.0 ± 34.9 months (p < 0.001). The most common FEVR mutations were M680I and M694V. In addition, retinal vascular occlusions included one case of central retinal artery occlusion and one case of branch retinal artery occlusion.

CONCLUSION

FBA and milder forms of retinal vasculitis are associated with FMF. Therapy involves an increase in colchicine dosage in early cases, a long period of oral corticosteroid, intravitreal dexamethasone implant or periocular corticosteroid in select cases, and combination therapy with systemic immunosuppression in severe cases. FMF needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of retinal vasculitis.

The Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) Consensus (CON) Group Meeting Proceedings

An international, expert led consensus initiative was set up by the Collaborative Ocular Tuberculosis Study (COTS) group to develop systematic, evidence, and experience-based recommendations for the treatment of ocular TB using a modified Delphi technique process. In the first round of Delphi, the group identified clinical scenarios pertinent to ocular TB based on five clinical phenotypes (anterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, choroiditis, retinal vasculitis, and panuveitis). Using an interactive online questionnaires, guided by background knowledge from published literature, 486 consensus statements for initiating ATT were generated and deliberated amongst 81 global uveitis experts. The median score of five was considered reaching consensus for initiating ATT. The median score of four was tabled for deliberation through Delphi round 2 in a face-to-face meeting. This report describes the methodology adopted and followed through the consensus process, which help elucidate the guidelines for initiating ATT in patients with choroidal TB.

[Choroidal neovascularization associated with sympathetic ophthalmia: case report]

A 7-year-old boy with sympathetic ophthalmia secondary to penetrating ocular trauma developed choroidal neovascularization in the macular region of the sympathizing eye. Posterior segment biomicroscopy disclosed a single, round, small, slightly elevated yellow-white lesion temporal to the fovea, linked to the temporal edge of the optic disc by a fibrotic band. On fluorescein angiography the round lesion showed a gradual hyperfluorescence, with late staining and leakage, and was interpreted as a fibrovascular scar from previous choroidal neovascularization. Despite intense immunosuppressive therapy, the patient's final visual acuity was 20/400. Although rarely associated with sympathetic ophthalmia, choroidal neovascularization and its cicatricial stages can occur and compromise the visual prognosis of an already debilitated eye. The best course of treatment for choroidal neovascularization in these types of cases has not yet been determined.

Pediatric Pars Planitis: A Review

PURPOSE

To provide an overview of pediatric pars planitis.

METHODS

Narrative literature review.

RESULTS

Pars planitis refers to the idiopathic subset of intermediate uveitis in which there is vitritis along with snowball or snowbank formation occurring in the absence of an associated infection or systemic disease. It is thought to be a T-cell mediated disease with a genetic predisposition. Pars planitis accounts for 5-26.7% of pediatric uveitis cases. Presentation is commonly bilateral but asymmetric, often with insidious onset of floaters and blurred vision. Although pars planitis is known to be a benign form of uveitis in most cases, severe complications secondary to chronic inflammation may arise, with cystoid macular edema being the most common cause of visual morbidity. Mild vitritis in the absence of symptoms, vision loss, or macular edema may be observed. Patients with severe vitritis and/or associated vision-threatening complications require prompt aggressive treatment. A stepladder approach including corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, anti‑tumor necrosis factor‑alpha and pars plana vitrectomy and/or laser photocoagulation is the most commonly used method for treatment of pars planitis.

CONCLUSION

Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of pediatric pars planitis and associated complications are crucial in order to improve visual outcomes.

The outcome of initial mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of secondary glaucoma associated with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis

PURPOSE

To investigate the outcome of mitomycin C (MMC)-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI)-related glaucoma in 1-year follow-up period.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 50 eyes with FHI-related glaucoma those had underwent initial trabeculectomy with MMC (0.2 mg/ml-3 min). Thirty-one of them had single-dose bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) into the bleb area just at the end of the surgery, while 19 eyes did not have. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and the mean number of anti-glaucomatous medications were evaluated. The IOP value ≤ 21 mmHg was defined as complete or qualified surgical success in terms of using medical anti-glaucomatous treatment. Bleb height and vascularity were evaluated with Indiana bleb grading system. Paired sample t test, t test, Chi-square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The preoperative IOP values of bevacizumab and without bevacizumab groups were 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg and 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg, respectively, and they decreased to 17.5 ± 4.6 mmHg and 17 ± 5.2 mmHg at the final visit (p < 0.001 for all values). There were no significant differences in postoperative IOP and the number of medications between the groups at the final visit. In bevacizumab group, complete success was achieved in 100% within the third month but decreased to 22.5% (complete) and 74.1% (qualified) at the first year. In the other group (without bevacizumab group), complete success was achieved in 94.7% within the third month but decreased to 15.8% (complete) and 84.2% (qualified) at the first year.

CONCLUSION

Initial trabeculectomy with MMC and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection was found to have lower rates of complete success with relatively acceptable qualified success rates in the management of FHI-related glaucoma. Subconjunctival bevacizumab was not found to have additional effect to improve the surgical success.

Thirteen-year vitreoretinal surgical outcomes of 5,097 cases from a tertiary referral center in Turkey

A 13-year retrospective chart review of 5,097 consecutive cases that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in a tertiary referral center in Turkey was performed. Age at onset, sex, laterality, associated systemic disease, pre- and postoperative visual acuities (VA), indications, type of surgery and outcomes of surgery were analyzed. The most common indications for vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) were rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n = 1,802, 35.4%) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 1,505, 29.5%). The most common vitreoretinal technique combinations performed were PPV with encircling endolaser (EL) and phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (33.0%), PPV with encircling EL (30.4%), and only PPV (7.0%). A statistically significant increase in the mean VA was noted at the first- (1.16 ± 0.44 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, logMAR) and sixth-month (1.06 ± 0.61 logMAR) visits when compared to the preoperative VA (1.77 ± 0.58 logMAR; p < 0.001). Comparisons in the top surgical indications, techniques and outcomes for vitrectomy between the countries could be important for the development of subspecialization in VRS.