Comparing the efficacy of a novel mucoadhesive patch containing Nigella sativa 10% with triamcinolone 0.1% in patients with erosive-atrophic oral lichen planus: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel mucoadhesive patch containing Nigella sativa 10% extract compared to triamcinolone 0.1% in alleviating symptoms and reducing lesion severity in patients with erosive-atrophic oral lichen planus. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A pilot study comprising two groups, each with 10 patients, was conducted. The intervention group received mucoadhesive patches containing N. sativa 10% extract, while the control group received triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% patches. Pain and burning intensity, measured through visual analog scale, and lesion severity based on the Thongprasom scale were assessed weekly for 4 weeks. Descriptive records were kept for side effects and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Pain and burning intensity decreased in both groups throughout the sessions, with the N. sativa group showing a greater reduction than the triamcinolone group. The reduction in burning intensity within each group was significant (p < .001), and there was a significant difference between groups only in the second session (p = .045). The overall difference between groups was not significant (p > .05). Lesion severity also decreased significantly in both groups (p < .001), with a significant difference between groups observed in the third session (p = .043) and overall throughout the study (p = .006). CONCLUSION: The use of N. sativa extract in mucoadhesive patches was as effective as corticosteroids in reducing pain, burning, and lesion severity in patients with oral lichen planus, with N. sativa showing superior results in some sessions. Notably, no significant complications were observed with N. sativa use, making it a promising treatment option for lichen planus.

Rapid onset pembrolizumab-induced inflammatory arthritis diagnosed using musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionised the treatment of cancer. While very effective, they commonly cause a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events. These immune-related adverse events can be fatal and often have significant effects on quality of life. They therefore require prompt recognition and management. We report the case of a woman presenting with widespread joint pain and stiffness 6 hours after her first pembrolizumab infusion. She had no joint swelling on physical examination but an ultrasound scan revealed widespread musculoskeletal inflammation, confirming the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fastest reported inflammatory arthritis onset following immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. It highlights the importance of timely imaging in patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors who present with new non-specific musculoskeletal pain. Her symptoms improved dramatically with intramuscular triamcinolone injection.

Peribulbar Corticosteroids for Ocular Myasthenia Gravis.

BACKGROUND: Ocular myasthenia gravis is treated predominantly by oral medications, with the potential for systemic adverse effects. Successful treatment has been achieved using peribulbar dexamethasone. We assessed the effect of peribulbar dexamethasone or triamcinolone (40-mg Triesence), a longer-acting corticosteroid, targeting the peribulbar area as opposed to directly injecting the affected extraocular muscle. This more convenient and secure approach holds the potential for straightforward integration within clinical environments. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: Five patients were identified that were treated with peribulbar corticosteroids. In 4 of the 5 cases, ophthalmoparesis was unilateral. One case had isolated ptosis, and 4 had both ptosis and ophthalmoparesis. Three of these 4 cases reported complete resolution of symptoms within weeks of a single injection. Improvement lasted between 5 to 6 months, and all patients responded to repeated injections. CONCLUSIONS: Peribulbar corticosteroids can be effective in ocular myasthenia gravis. We suggest that longer-acting agents such as triamcinolone are preferable, to reduce injection frequency.

Allergic Rhinitis: A Review.

Importance: Allergic rhinitis affects an estimated 15% of the US population (approximately 50 million individuals) and is associated with the presence of asthma, eczema, chronic or recurrent sinusitis, cough, and both tension and migraine headaches. Observations: Allergic rhinitis occurs when disruption of the epithelial barrier allows allergens to penetrate the mucosal epithelium of nasal passages, inducing a T-helper type 2 inflammatory response and production of allergen-specific IgE. Allergic rhinitis typically presents with symptoms of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, postnasal drainage, sneezing, and itching of the eyes, nose, and throat. In an international study, the most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis were rhinorrhea (90.38%) and nasal congestion (94.23%). Patients with nonallergic rhinitis present primarily with nasal congestion and postnasal drainage frequently associated with sinus pressure, ear plugging, muffled sounds and pain, and eustachian tube dysfunction that is less responsive to nasal corticosteroids. Patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis typically have physical examination findings of edematous and pale turbinates. Patients with perennial allergic rhinitis typically have erythematous and inflamed turbinates with serous secretions that appear similar to other forms of chronic rhinitis at physical examination. Patients with nonallergic rhinitis have negative test results for specific IgE aeroallergens. Intermittent allergic rhinitis is defined as symptoms occurring less than 4 consecutive days/week or less than 4 consecutive weeks/year. Persistent allergic rhinitis is defined as symptoms occurring more often than 4 consecutive days/week and for more than 4 consecutive weeks/year. Patients with allergic rhinitis should avoid inciting allergens. In addition, first-line treatment for mild intermittent or mild persistent allergic rhinitis may include a second-generation H1 antihistamine (eg, cetirizine, fexofenadine, desloratadine, loratadine) or an intranasal antihistamine (eg, azelastine, olopatadine), whereas patients with persistent moderate to severe allergic rhinitis should be treated initially with an intranasal corticosteroid (eg, fluticasone, triamcinolone, budesonide, mometasone) either alone or in combination with an intranasal antihistamine. In contrast, first-line therapy for patients with nonallergic rhinitis consists of an intranasal antihistamine as monotherapy or in combination with an intranasal corticosteroid. Conclusions and Relevance: Allergic rhinitis is associated with symptoms of nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching of the eyes, nose, and throat. Patients with allergic rhinitis should be instructed to avoid inciting allergens. Therapies include second-generation H1 antihistamines (eg, cetirizine, fexofenadine, desloratadine, loratadine), intranasal antihistamines (eg, azelastine, olopatadine), and intranasal corticosteroids (eg, fluticasone, triamcinolone, budesonide, mometasone) and should be selected based on the severity and frequency of symptoms and patient preference.

A Phase II Clinical Trial to Study the Safety of Triamcinolone after Endoscopic Radial Incision and Cutting Dilatation for Benign Stenosis of the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Lower gastrointestinal tract stenosis is commonly diagnosed and is typically treated with surgery or endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). Radial incision and cutting (RIC) is a novel treatment approach that has several benefits compared with EBD and surgery. Although RIC has demonstrated a high technical success rate and has been shown to improve subjective symptoms, previous studies revealed that restenosis after RIC remain unsolved. Herein, we report the design of a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, interventional, phase II trial to evaluate the safety of local triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administration and its feasibility in preventing restenosis after RIC for lower gastrointestinal tract stenosis. METHODS: The major inclusion criteria are age 20-80 years and the presence of benign stenosis in the lower gastrointestinal tract accessible by colonoscope. We will perform RIC followed by local administration of TA to 20 participants. The primary outcome is the safety of local TA administration, which will be assessed by determining the frequency of adverse events of special interest. The secondary outcomes are the technical success rate of RIC, duration of procedure, improvement in subjective symptoms, and duration of hospitalization. The outcomes, improvement in subjective symptoms, and long-term results will be evaluated using descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, and Kaplan-Meier curve, respectively. DISCUSSION: This explorative study will provide useful information regarding the safety of TA administration after RIC, which may contribute to further investigations.

Comparative-effectiveness study evaluating outcomes for transforaminal epidural steroid injections performed with 3% hypertonic saline or normal saline in lumbosacral radicular pain.

BACKGROUND: Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) are commonly employed to treat lumbosacral radiculopathy. Despite anti-inflammatory properties, the addition of 3% hypertonic saline has not been studied. OBJECTIVE: Compare the effectiveness of adding 0.9% NaCl (N-group) vs. 3% NaCl (H-group) in TFESI performed for lumbosacral radiculopathy. METHODS: This retrospective study compared TFESI performed with lidocaine, triamcinolone and 0.9% NaCl vs. lidocaine, triamcinolone and 3% NaCl. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who experienced a ≥ 30% reduction in pain on a verbal rating scale (VRS; 0-100) at 3 months. Secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients who improved by at least 30% for pain at 1 and 6 months, and who experienced ≥15% from baseline on the Oswestry disability index (ODI) at follow-up. RESULTS: The H-group experienced more successful pain outcomes than the N-group at 3 months (59.09% vs. 41.51%; P = .002) but not at 1 month (67.53% vs. 64.78%; P = .61) or 6 months (27.13% vs 21.55%: P = .31). For functional outcome, there was a higher proportion of responders in the H-group than the N-group at 3 months (70.31% vs. 53.46%; P = .002). Female, age ≤ 60 years, and duration of pain ≤ 6 months were associated with superior outcomes at the 3-month endpoint. Although those with a herniated disc experienced better outcomes in general with TFESI, the only difference favoring the H-group was for spondylolisthesis patients. CONCLUSIONS: 3% hypertonic saline is a viable alternative to normal saline as an adjunct for TFESI, with randomized studies needed to compare its effectiveness to steroids as a possible alternative. REGISTRATION: Thai Clinical Trials Registry ID TCTR 20231110006.

Microneedling in the Treatment of Post-burn Hypertrophic Scars.

INTRODUCTION: Post-burn hypertrophic scars are an important cause of physical discomfort, limitation of movements, psychological disorders, low self-esteem and reduced quality of life. Treatment for this condition is complex and involves several options. Microneedling, also known as minimally invasive percutaneous collagen induction, is an affordable minimally invasive option that can be combined with other treatments, including ablative ones. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to present our microneedling approach for the treatment of hypertrophic scars after burns. METHOD: A prospective study of 15 patients with post-burn hypertrophic scars was conducted between October 2016 and June 2022. All patients were treated with microneedling and drug delivery of triamcinolone. Scars were evaluated using Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), Burn Scar Assessment Scale (BSAS) and angle measurement for amplitude of movement evaluation of joints. RESULTS: A significant improvement in the VSS score was obtained after microneedling (8.8 ± 0.44 to 4.1 ± 0.98; p = 0.012), especially in the acute group (less than 1 year after burns): 9.3 ± 0.49 to 3.5 ± 1.36; p = 0.041. There was a significant and progressive improvement of the scars throughout the treatment sessions in all criteria evaluated and in the ranges of joint movement (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Our microneedling protocol promoted a significant improvement of post-burn scars, especially in acute hypertrophic scars, and in the amplitude of joint motion. Sequential treatments provided progressive improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Utilization of Topical Polysporin and Triamcinolone for the Treatment of Hypergranulation Tissue.

Hypergranulation is the abnormal accumulation of granulation tissue in a wound and is commonly seen in burns. It impairs wound healing and can predispose patients to infection. There is no gold standard treatment for hypergranulation tissue, but some options include surgical debridement, chemical cautery with silver nitrate, and topical steroids. Silver nitrate treatment is painful and can lead to scarring, so topical steroid use is on the rise. A retrospective review, between January 1, 2017 and August 30, 2021, at a tertiary burn center was performed to analyze outcomes of hypergranulation tissue after treatment with a topical 50/50 mixture of triamcinolone (Perrigo, Dublin, Ireland) and Polysporin (Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ). One hundred and sixteen patients were treated with triamcinolone and Polysporin for hypergranulation tissue, although 24 did not meet inclusion criteria. Eighty-eight out of 92 patients were successfully treated until hypergranulation resolution, while 4/92(4.3%) required silver nitrate or surgery despite the topical cream to achieve resolution. In the 88 patients successfully treated until hypergranulation resolution, 99 areas of hypergranulation were treated. Forty-one of 99 (41.4%) hypergranulation areas resolved within 2 weeks. The average time to hypergranulation resolution was 27.5 ± 2.5 days. We found that a novel 50/50 mixture of triamcinolone and Polysporin topical ointment is an effective and safe treatment for hypergranulation tissue in burn wounds. Further prospective studies are needed to determine its efficacy and safety profile.

Rehabilitación de trauma facial ocasionado por fuegos artificiales utilizando triamcinolona / Aesthetic and functional rehabilitation using triamcinolone on patient suffered by facial firework injury

Introduction: Facial injuries are a common occurrence at the emergency room. Treatment for this type of trauma is complex in terms of re-establishing good oral and facial function, plus aesthetics. Objective: This paper aims to report a clinical case of aesthetic and functional rehabilitation using triamcinolone in a patient affected on the face by a fireworks explosion. Case report: A 26-year-old man was admitted to the oral and maxillofacial surgery service of the Sergipe Urgency Hospital presenting trauma after the explosion of a "Firework rocket" in his face. The patient had extensive soft tissue injury in gingival mucosa, right labial commissure, and tongue. There was also inferior incisive avulsion and dentoalveolar fracture. His clinical and tomographic evaluation presented comminuted mandibular fracture. After eighteen days he was discharged and sent to the dentistry service of the Federal University of Sergipe for aesthetic and functional rehabilitation of his facial damages. Two months later, the patient attended a University dental service to begin aesthetic and postoperative functional rehabilitation. First, the necrotic bone was removed, following intralesional infiltration of hexacetonide triamcinolone 20mg/mL into the scar of the labial region and the commissure of the lips was performed. Each application was performed after twenty days of interval. Later, lingual frenectomy and glossosplasty were done for improving his lingual mobility and then hexacetonide triamcinolone 20mg/mL infiltrations were also done in the tongue base in the following sessions. Conclusions: After five infiltrations, it was observed an improvement in the scar appearance and texture, which also had a lower contracture, as well as a lingual motricity improvement(AU)

Introducción: Las lesiones faciales son frecuentes en el servicio de emergencia. El tratamiento para este tipo de trauma es complejo en términos de restablecer una buena función bucal y facial, además de la estética. Objetivo: Reportar un caso clínico de rehabilitación estética y funcional a través del uso de hexacetónido de triamcinolona en un paciente afectado por una explosión de fuegos artificiales en su rostro. Caso clínico: Hombre de 26 años ingresado en el servicio de cirugía oral y maxilofacial del Hospital de Urgencia de Sergipe por presentar un traumatismo después de la explosión contra su rostro de un cohete de fuegos artificiales. El paciente tenía una lesión extensa de partes blandas en la mucosa gingival, comisura labial derecha y lengua. También hubo avulsión incisiva inferior y fractura dentoalveolar. A través de la evaluación clínica y de tomografía, fue posible observar fragmentación múltiple ósea en el sitio de la fractura, compatible con fractura mandibular conminuta. Después de dieciocho días fue dado de alta y enviado al servicio de odontología de la Universidad Federal de Sergipe para la rehabilitación estética y funcional de sus daños faciales. Dos meses después, el paciente asistió al servicio dental de la universidad para comenzar la rehabilitación funcional estética y posoperatoria. Primero, se retiró el hueso necrótico, luego se realizó la infiltración intralesional de hexacetónido de triamcinolona 20 mg/mL en la cicatriz de la región labial y se realizó la comisura de los labios; con un intervalo de 20 días entre cada aplicación. Posteriormente, se realizaron frenectomía lingual y glososplastia, para mejorar su movilidad lingual, y luego se realizaron infiltraciones de 20 mg/mL de hexacetónido de triamcinolona en la base de la lengua en las sesiones siguientes. Comentarios principales: Después de cinco infiltraciones se observó una mejora en el aspecto y la textura de la cicatriz, que también tenía una contractura más baja, así como una mejora de la motricidad lingual(AU)

Uso terapéutico de la hialuronidasa y la triamcinolona en el pseudotumor orbitario / Therapeutic use of hyaluronidase and triamcinolone in orbital pseudotumor

RESUMEN El origen del pseudotumor orbitario no es del todo conocido. Se admite su naturaleza inflamatoria granulomatosa e inespecífica en diferentes localizaciones. El pseudotumor orbitario se define como una respuesta inflamatoria celular pleomórfica, que está usualmente confinado a estructuras de la órbita y tiene una evolución limitada. En este trabajo se presenta una paciente femenina de 16 años, con diagnóstico de pseudotumor orbitario corroborado por biopsia y tomografía axial computarizada, refractaria al tratamiento con esteroides sistémicos, por lo que se decide iniciar con la aplicación de hialuronidasa y triamcinolona en el espacio peribulbar. Los casos agudos casi siempre responden rápidamente al tratamiento con cortocoesteroides, como prednisona, pero debemos tener en cuenta que existen pacientes que son refractarios al tratamiento, por lo que es necesario buscar procedimientos alternativos. Una opción es el uso de hialuronidasa para destruir las uniones extracelulares, y difundir un esteroide de manera local, como la triamcinolona, más efectiva dentro del tejido inflamatorio para provocar un efecto localizado de este. A los tres meses del tratamiento hubo una regresión total del cuadro en esta paciente(AU)

ABSTRACT The exact etiology of orbital pseudotumor is unknown, but its granulomatous unspecific inflammatory nature at various locations has been recognized. Orbital pseudotumor is defined as a cellular pleomorphic inflammatory response of limited evolution often confined to orbital structures. A case is presented of a female 16-year-old patient diagnosed with orbital pseudotumor confirmed by biopsy and computerized axial tomography, refractory to treatment with systemic steroids, due to which it is decided to start treatment with hyaluronidase and triamcinolone in the peribulbar space. Acute cases often respond fast to treatment with corticosteroids such as prednisone. It should be borne in mind that there are patients who are refractory to treatment for whom alternative treatments should be sought. An option is the use of hyaluronidase to destroy extracellular junctions and locally spread a steroid such as triamcinolone, most effectively within the inflammatory tissue to ensure its localized effect. Total regression of the patient's status was observed at three months of treatment(AU)

Comparative study between intravitreal ranibizumab and triamcinolone treatment of diabetic macular edema as regard to optical coherence tomography changes and visual acuity / Estudo comparativo entre o tratamento intravítreo com ranibizumabe e triancinolona do edema macular diabético quanto às alterações na tomografia de coerência óptica e na acuidade visual

Abstract Objectives: To compare the effect of intravitreal Ranibizumab (0.3mg) and Triamicinolone (4mg) on different parameters in spectral domain OCT and their relation to visual acuity of patients with diabetic macular edema. Methods: This study is designed as a prospective randomized study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups receiving either Pro re nata intravitreal Ranibizumab (0.3mg) or Triamicinolone acetonide (4mg), to whom Spectral Domain OCT was done as well as best corrected Log MAR visual acuity. Results: 40 patients were included in this study. Comparison and correlation of mean BCVA and mean CMT among and within treatment groups of our study revealed strong and significant relationship between both parameters and showing equal effect of both treatment types regarding them with the consideration that Triamicinolone acetonide treated group (Group B) showed statistically significant lower CMT compared to Ranibizumab treated group (Group A) at three and six months. Also both showed equal effectivity regarding improvement of the photoreceptors integrity and in turn the improvement of the BCVA. Meanwhile the association of CMT and IS/OS integrity was found to be significant only at six months in both groups (p =0.009 in Group A; p =0.031 in Group B). The fading initial effect of a single ranibizumab injection on macular edema can be augmented by following that one injection with two injections of the loading dose. Triamicinolone effect after single injection began to fade at 3 months. Conclusion: Both treatment types had good effect on reduction of CMT and improvement of BCVA and the IS/OS junction with difference in sustainability of their effects due to difference in their pharmacokinetics and need for repeated injections.

Resumo Objetivos: Comparar o efeito do ranibizumabe intravítreo (0,3mg) e triacmicinolona (4mg) em diferentes parâmetros do domínio espectral da OCT e sua relação com a acuidade visual de pacientes com edema macular diabético. Métodos: Este estudo foi concebido como um estudo prospectivo randomizado. Os pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em 2 grupos que receberam Ranibizumab Pro rata intravitreal (0,3mg) ou acetonido de Triamicinolona (4mg), a quem foi realizada a Spectral Domain OCT, bem como a melhor acuidade visual de Log MAR corrigida. Resultados: Quarenta pacientes foram incluídos neste estudo. A comparação e a correlação da acuidade visual média e CMT média entre e dentro de grupos de tratamento do nosso estudo revelaram uma relação forte e significativa entre ambos os parâmetros e mostrando um efeito igual de ambos os tipos de tratamento, considerando que o grupo tratado com acetonido Triamicinolona (Grupo B) apresentou significância estatística. menor CMT comparado ao grupo tratado com Ranibizumab (Grupo A) aos três e seis meses. Também ambos mostraram igual efetividade em relação à melhoria da integridade dos fotorreceptores e, por sua vez, a melhora do BCVA. Enquanto isso, a associação de CMT e IS / OS integridade foi significativa apenas aos seis meses em ambos os grupos (p = 0,009 no Grupo A; p = 0,031 no Grupo B). O efeito inicial enfraquecido de uma única injeção de ranibizumabe no edema macular pode ser aumentado seguindo-se aquela injeção com duas injeções da dose de ataque. O efeito triamicinolona após injeção única começou a diminuir aos 3 meses. Conclusão: Ambos os tipos de tratamento tiveram bom efeito na redução da CMT e melhora do BCVA e da junção IS / OS com a diferença na sustentabilidade de seus efeitos devido à diferença em sua farmacocinética e necessidade de injeções repetidas.

Manifestación oral del pénfigo vulgar. Reporte de un caso / Oral manifestation of vulgar pemphigus. A case report

RESUMEN El pénfigo es una enfermedad autoinmune potencialmente mortal, que causa ampollas y erosiones en la piel y en la membrana mucosa. Las lesiones epiteliales son el resultado de autoanticuerpos que reaccionan con las glicoproteínas desmosomales y están presentes en la superficie celular del queratinocito. La reacción autoinmune contra estas glicoproteínas causa una pérdida de adhesión celular, resultando en la formación de ampollas intraepiteliales. Del 80 al 90 % de los pacientes con pénfigo vulgar, desarrollan trastornos cutáneos y en el 60 % de los casos alteraciones en la mucosa que es el primer o único signo. El diagnóstico de las lesiones en cavidad bucal es fundamental, ya que pueden prevenir su afectación a la piel. Si se establece el tratamiento en su etapa inicial, la enfermedad es más fácil de controlar y aumenta la posibilidad de una remisión temprana del trastorno y mejor calidad de vida. Este reporte de caso mostró a una paciente de 35 años, la que comenzó a presentar lesiones ulceradas en toda la orofaringe, con sensación de ardor e incapacidad para la ingestión de alimentos. El diagnóstico fue pénfigo vulgar (AU).

ABSTRACT Pemphigus is a potentially deadly autoimmune disease causing blisters and erosions in the skin and the mucous membrane. The epithelial lesions are the result of antibodies reacting to desmosomal glycoproteins, and are present in the keratinocytes cellular surface. The autoimmune reaction to these glycoproteins causes a cellular adhesion loss resulting in the formation of intraepithelial blisters. From 80 to 90 % of the patients with vulgar pemphigus develop skin disorders, and 60 % of the cases show mucosa changes as the first or unique sign. The diagnosis of the lesions in oral cavity is essential because it could prevent the skin damage. If the treatment begins in an initial stage, it is easier to control the disease and the possibility of the disorder's early remission and a better life quality increases. This is the report of the case of a female patient, aged 35 years, who presented ulcerated lesions in the entire oropharyngeal region, with itching sensation and inability for food consumption. The diagnosis was vulgar pemphigus (AU).

Retinopatia vaso-oclusiva por lúpus eritematoso sistêmico associada à síndrome do anticorpo antifosfolipídeo / Vaso-occlusive retinopathy by systemic lupus erythematosus associated with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Resumo Relatar um caso de paciente com Retinopatia vaso-oclusiva por Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) associado à Síndrome do Anticorpo Antifosfolipídeo (SAF), que se iniciou com um quadro de anemia hemolítica autoimune acompanhado por baixa visual súbita monocular. Poucos casos foram descritos na literatura nacional e mundial em que o LES se manifeste primeiramente com alterações oculares. O screening dos Anticorpos antifosfolípideos (APAs) é de suma importância para pacientes com retinopatia lúpica para que seja instituída a terapia imediata com anticoagulantes como forma de prevenir a trombose vascular, o que piora o prognóstico visual.

Abstract To report the case of a patient with vaso-occlusive retinopathy due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS), which started with signs and symptoms of autoimune hemolytic anemia accompanied by sudden monocular visual loss. Few cases of SLE manifestation primarily involving ocular changes have been reported in the Brazilian and international literature. Screening for antiphospholipid antibodies is of the greatest importance for patients with lupus retinopathy, so that immediate therapy with anticoagulants may be instituted in order to prevent vascular thrombosis, which worsens the visual prognosis.

Effect of Mitomycin - C and Triamcinolone on Preventing Urethral Strictures

ABSTRACT Urethral stricture is a common disease with high recurrence rate. Several manipulations were defined to prevent the recurrence but the results were disappointing. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of triamcinolone and mitomycin-C on urethral stricture formation and their effect on inhibition of urethral fibrosis. A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Urethras of rabbits were traumatized with pediatric resectoscope. Resection area was irrigated with 10mL saline, swapped with a cotton wool soaked with 0.5mg/mL MMC and injected by 40mg triamcinolone in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Retrograde urethrogram was performed at 28th day of procedure and the urethra was removed for histopathologic evaluation. There were significant differences in urethral diameters and in lumen reduction rate between the control and study groups (p<0.001). Compared to control group, all treatment groups showed mild fibrosis, less collagen bundle irregularity, and lower numbers of fibroblasts (p=0.003). The Tunnel assay showed that the number of apoptotic cells in the submucosal connective tissue was quantitatively higher in control groups (p=0.034). In the view of efficacy and safety, MMC and triamcinolone have the potential to replace the use of stents, clean intermittent catheterization, or long term catheters following internal urethrotomy. There were no statistically significant differences between two agents in terms of preventing urethral stricture formation in the present study. Mitomycin C and triamcinolone decreased the recurrence rates of urethral stricture.

Triancinolona intra-vítrea e clorpromazina retrobulbar como alternativas ao manejo do olho cego doloroso / Intravietrea trianciclone and retotubulbar chlorpromazine as alternative to blind paintful eye manegement

RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo desde estudo foi avaliar a efetividade da triancinolona intra-vítrea e da clorpromazina retrobulbar como alternativas no manejo da dor ocular em olhos cegos. Métodos: Este foi um estudo prospectivo intervencionista não-randomizado de pacientes com olho cego doloroso não responsivo ao tratamento tópico e sem indicação de evisceração atendidos no Serviço de Oftalmologia do Hospital Governador Celso Ramos no ano de 2010. Após exame oftalmológico e ultrassonografia ocular modo B, os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos. Pacientes do Grupo 1 possuíam glaucoma intratável e receberam injeção retrobulbar de clorpromazina 2,5ml, e pacientes do Grupo 2 possuíam olhos phthisicos com componente inflamatório e receberam injeção intra-vítrea de triancinolona 0,3ml. Foram realizadas avaliações com 1, 3 e 6 meses após o procedimento e a dor quantificada de forma subjetiva em uma escala de 0 a 10 (sem dor e com o máximo de dor, respectivamente). Resultados: Foram incluídos 38 olhos, sendo 15 no Grupo 1 e 21 no Grupo 2. Houve predomínio do sexo masculino e idade média de 54 anos. A causa mais prevalente de olho cego doloroso foi o glaucoma neovascular. Tanto a injeção de clorpromazina retrobulbar quanto a de triancinolona intra-vítrea mostraram-se eficazes no controle da dor ocular em olhos cegos no período do estudo (p<0,001). Ocorreu uma redução de 77,1% no uso de colírios (p<0,01) após a aplicação das medicações. Conclusão: Tanto a injeção de clorpromazina retrobulbar quanto a de triancinolona intra-vítrea mostraram resultados significativos no controle da dor ocular em olhos cegos, além de uma redução no uso de colírios. A clorpromazina é um medicamento de baixo custo, com melhor perfil de efeitos adversos e mostrou resultados discretamente melhores relação à triancinolona. Possíveis viéses identificados no estudo são o de tempo e seleção.

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone and retrobulbar chlorpromazine as alternatives in the management of ocular pain in blind eyes. Methods: This was a non-randomized interventional prospective study of patients with painful blind eye unresponsive to topical treatment and without indication of evisceration treated at the Hospital Governador Celso Ramos Ophthalmology Service in 2010. After ocular examination and ocular B mode ultrasound, patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 patients had intractable glaucoma and received retrobulbar injection of chlorpromazine 2.5ml, and Group 2 patients had phthisics eyes with inflammatory component and received intravitreal triamcinolone injection 0.3ml. Evaluations were performed at 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure and quantified pain subjectively on a scale from 0 to 10 (no pain and maximum pain, respectively). Results: 38 eyes were included, 15 in Group 1 and 21 in Group 2. There was a predominance of males with a mean age of 54 years. The most prevalent cause of painful blind eye was the neovascular glaucoma. Any retrobulbar injection of chlorpromazine as the intravitreal triamcinolone shown to be effective in the control of ocular pain in the eye blind study period (p <0.001). There was a 77.1% reduction in eye drops (p <0.01) after application of medication. Conclusion: Both the retrobulbar injection chlorpromazine as the intravitreal triamcinolone showed significant results in the control of ocular pain in blind eyes, and a reduction in the use of eye drops. Chlorpromazine is a low cost product, with a better adverse effect profile and showed slightly better results compared to triamcinolone. Potential bias identified in the study are the time and selection.

Prophylaxis and treatment of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery / Profilaxia e tratamento do edema macular cistoide após cirurgia de catarata

Macular cystoid edema is one of the major causes of decreased vision after cataract surgery. The inflammatory process appears to be the main causal factor of the edema. The major risk factors are: surgical complications, previous retinal diseases, diabetes, uveitis and use of prostaglandins drops. The diagnosis is clinically, but fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography are also important to detect swelling and assist in differential diagnosis. Although pre-operative prophylaxis do not have scientific evidence, it is recommended especially in cases with risk factors. The initial treatment includes a combination of both topic corticosteroid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. Chronic and refractory cases can be managed with alternatives treatment, such as intravitreal triamcinolone and anti-angiogenic. This article aims to discuss various aspects of pseudophakic macular cystoid edema.

O edema macular cistoide é uma das principais causas de baixa de visão após cirurgia de catarata. O processo inflamatório parece ser o principal fator causal do edema. São considerados fatores de risco complicações cirúrgicas, doenças retinianas prévias, diabetes, uveítes e uso de colírios de prostaglandinas. O diagnóstico é feito clinicamente, mas a angiografia fluoresceínica e a tomografia de coerência óptica também são ferramentas importantes para detectar o edema e auxiliar no diagnóstico diferencial. Apesar da profilaxia pré-operatória não ter evidência científica, ela é preconizada especialmente nos casos com fatores de risco. O tratamento inicial é realizado com associação de corticoide e anti-inflamatório não hormonais tópicos. Os casos crônicos e refratários têm diversas alternativas de tratamento, sendo o uso de triancinolona e antiangiogênicos intravítreos as mais utilizadas. Este artigo se propõe a discutir diversos aspectos do edema macular cistoide pseudofácico.

Recurrent myopic foveoschisis: resolution after internal limiting membrane removal / Isquise miópica recorrente: resolução após remoção da membrana limitante interna

We report a case of a 66-year-old man with a history of high myopia and who was referred for acute decreased visual acuity of the right eye. Fundus examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a mild epiretinal membrane (ERM) and splitting of retinal layers. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed with intravitreous triamcinolone injection, posterior hyaloid and ERM peeling, and 12% perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas tamponade. After remaining asymptomatic for 17 months, the patient reported a new episode of sudden decreased visual acuity in his right eye, and OCT showed recurrent myopic foveoschisis (MF). He underwent vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Six months later, the patient’s best corrected visual acuity had improved to 20/25. Optical coherence tomography showed a remarkably improved macular anatomy, with residual traction along the inferotemporal arcade, which was attributed to the vessel stiffness itself. We conclude that removing the internal limiting membrane is a challenging maneuver in myopic foveoschisis, even with staining approaches. Although myopic foveoschisis may be resolved without peeling the internal limiting membrane, its removal should be considered if the condition recurs.

Relatamos caso de um homem de 66 anos, com antecedente de alta miopia, que referiu baixa de acuidade visual aguda no olho direito. O mapeamento de retina e o exame de tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) mostraram discreta membrana epirretiniana (ERM) e isquise retiniana. Foi realizada vitrectomia via pars plana com injeção intravítrea de triancinolona, retirada da hialóide posterior, peeling da membrana epirretiniana e tamponamento com gás perfluorpropano (C3F8) a 12%. O paciente permaneceu assintomático por 17 meses, quando queixou-se de novo episódio de baixa de acuidade visual súbita no olho direito e o tomografia de coerência óptica mostrou recorrência da isquise miópica. Ele foi submetido a nova vitrectomia com peeling da membrana limitante interna (ILM). Após 6 meses, a acuidade visual corrigida era de 20/25. A tomografia de coerência óptica mostrou melhora importante da anatomia macular, com área de tração residual observada na arcada inferotemporal, que foi atribuída à rigidez do próprio vaso. A retirada da membrana limitante interna é uma manobra desafiadora em olhos alto míopes, mesmo estando corada. A resolução da isquise miópica pode ser atingida sem o peeling da membrana limitante interna, mas sua remoção deve ser considerada em casos de recorrência.

Manejo de toxoplasmosis ocular severa con clindamicina y triamcinolona intravitreas: reporte de 22 casos / Management of severe ocular toxoplasmosis with intravitreal clindamycin and triamcinolone: report of 22 cases

Objetivo: determinar la eficacia del uso secuencial de clindamicina - triamcinolona intravítreas en el tratamiento de la toxoplasmosis retinal severa (definida como aquella que afecta la macula y/o el nervio óptico) y de las toxoplasmosis atípicas difusas. Métodos: se evaluaron prospectivamente 22 ojos de 22 pacientes con diagnóstico de toxoplasmosis retinal severa, manejados con clindamicina intravítrea (4,5mg/0,03 cc) seguida, una semana después, de la aplicación de triamcinolona intravítrea (4mgs/0,1 cc). La agudeza visual se midió y se convirtió a LogMAR y se realizó una comparación con la prueba de Wilcoxon para establecer diferencias. Resultados: el 82% (18 pacientes) de los ojos tratados con este esquema presentaron mejoria de la agudeza visual, el 9 % (2 pacientes), se estabilizaron, el 9% (2 pacientes), empeoraron después del tratamiento. Sin tratamiento, el 74% de los pacientes (16 pacientes) tenían visión menor a 20/200. Con el tratamiento, este porcentaje disminuyó al 26% (6 pacientes). La agudeza visual expresada en LogMAR cambió después del tratamiento, pasando de 1.05 antes del tratamiento a 0,51, con una significancia estadística valor de p=0.002. Luego del tratamiento, 12 de los 22 pacientes (54%), estaban por encima de 20/50, logrando 20/20 en tres casos y 20/25 en cinco casos. No se observaron casos de hipertensión ocular, y se reportaron cinco complicaciones durante el tratamiento. Conclusiones: el tratamiento de toxoplasmosis retinal severa con el esquema de clindamicina intravítrea seguida de triamcinolona intravítrea muestra resultados positivos. Este tratamiento se puede recomendar para casos de toxoplasmosis retinales severas, definidas como aquellas que comprometen mácula, nervio óptico o toxoplasmosis difusas atípicas.

Objective: to determine the efficacy of sequential use of intravitreal clindamycin - intravitreal triamcinolone in the treatment of retinal toxoplasmosis severe (defi ned as one that affects the macula and / or the optic nerve) and diffuse atypical toxoplasmosis. Methods: we prospectively evaluated 22 eyes of 22 patients diagnosed with severe retinal toxoplasmosis, managed with intravitreal clindamycin (4,5mg/0,03 cc) followed a week later, the application of intravitreal triamcinolone(4mgs/0,1 cc). Visual acuity was measured and converted to LogMAR. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon test. Results: 82% (18 patients) of eyes treated with this system showed improved visual acuity, 9% (2 patients), stabilized, 9% (2 patients), worsened after treatment. Without treatment, 74% of patients (16 patients) had less than 20/200 vision. With treatment, this percentage decreased to 26% (6 patients). Visual acuity in LogMAR changed after treatment from 1,05 to 0,51 with statistical significance p=0,002. After treatment, 12 of 22 patients (54%) were above 20/50, 20/20 achieved in three cases and 20/25 in five cases. No cases of ocular hypertension and five complications were reported during treatment. Conclusions: The treatment of severe retinal toxoplasmosis with clindamycin scheme followed by intravitreal triamcinolone shows positive results. This treatment could be recommended for severe cases of retinal toxoplasmosis, defined as those that involve the macula, optic nerve, or diffuse atypical toxoplasmosis.