Paediatric Horner syndrome. A case series of 14 patients in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Horner syndrome (HS) is characterised by the triad of upper eyelid ptosis, miosis, and facial anhidrosis. Due to its wide variety of causes, it can occur at any age, and is uncommon in paediatrics. The aetiology and diagnostic approach of paediatric HS (PHS) is controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of a 14 case series, focusing on the aetiology of HS and the clinical evolution the patients presented. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients under 14 years-old (enrolled between 1st January 2009 and 30th April 2020). Depending on the age at diagnosis (before or after the first 5 months of life), the study cases were divided into two groups: congenital or acquired. RESULTS: Fourteen patients, with a mean age of 8.5 months, were enrolled. The most frequent cause of PHS were tumours (6/14), with the most representative neoplasm being neuroblastoma (4/14). Of the acquired cases (8/14), the most frequent cause was iatrogenic (5/8), mainly secondary to cervical or thoracic surgery. The main origin of congenital HS (6/14) was neuroblastoma (4/6), being the first manifestation of the disease in 50% of patients (2/4). CONCLUSION: HS may be the first sign of a major underlying disease, such as neuroblastoma. For this reason, children presenting with HS of unknown origin require imaging studies to exclude a life threatening disease. A thorough examination is essential for early diagnosis of these patients.

Chronic cytomegalovirus necrotizing retinitis in a patient with scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disease.

The case is presented of a 52-year-old woman with scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, and interstitial lung disease, who developed chronic cytomegalovirus necrotizing retinitis while on treatment with prednisone, mycophenolate, and hydroxychloroquine. Initially diagnosed as macular hole, the patient underwent a pars plana vitrectomy. Two months after surgery, due to progressive worsening, the diagnosis was made and treatment started (intravenous and intravitreal ganciclovir). The patient developed severe macular atrophy with final visual acuity of counting fingers. A chronic retinal necrosis can be caused by cytomegalovirus infection in non-HIV patients with partial immune dysfunction from other causes, characterized by a slowly progressive granular retinitis with occlusive vasculitis.

Peripapillary pachychoroidopathy. / Paquicoroidopatía peripapilar.

A study was made on 8 eyes of 5 patients between 47 and 65 years of age with peripapillary pachychoroidopathy. They all presented with a serous detachment of the neuroepithelium or retinal pigment epithelium in the nasal macular region that extended to the optic disc, with an increase in choroidal thickness at that level. An analysis was made of the choroidal thickness using high penetration optical coherence tomography, as well as their outcome in a period between 12 and 48 months. Peripapillary pachychoroidopathy is a distinct variant of the pachychoroid disease spectrum. It must be distinguished from other disorders, such as inflammatory or neuro-ophthalmological conditions, that may manifest in the vicinity of the optic disc. When faced with a patient with suspected pachychoroidopathy, a specific study of the papillary area should be considered using high penetration optical coherence tomography.

Takayasu's arteritis: Ischaemic retinal arterial occlusion as a possible initial presentation. / Arteritis de Takayasu: obstrucción arterial retiniana isquémica como posible presentación inicial.

Ocular manifestations are observed in 25% of patients with Takayasu's arteritis. Its signs and symptoms can be very variable. The case is presented of a 41-year-old woman with progressive vision loss in her right eye secondary to ischaemic retinal arterial occlusion. After a systematic study, a protein purified derivative (PPD) skin test compatible with tuberculosis was found to be the only alteration. After ruling out other causes, and based on the initial suspicion of tuberculous retinal vasculitis, treatment was started with antimicrobial agents and systemic corticosteroids, without any therapeutic response. Eighteen months later, the patient developed acute kidney failure, secondary to right renal artery stenosis. The CT-angiography revealed a thickening of the aortic arch and its branches, and Takayasús arteritis was finally diagnosed. Therefore, emphasis is made on the importance of the ophthalmologist in the diagnosis of Takayasús arteritis, in which its ophthalmological manifestations can be an early sign of the disease.

Fundoscopic characteristics in three cases of familial hyperchylomicronaemia. / Características fundoscópicas en tres casos de hiperquilomicronemia familiar.

CASES REPORT: Three cases are presented of patients with familial hyperchylomicronaemia and lipaemia retinalis, in whom an analysis is made of the fundoscopic characteristics of each of them. DISCUSSION: The typical appearance of the retinal fundus is pale salmon coloured and corresponds to levels of severe lipaemia retinalis. As regards the findings, the vascular tree tonality is probably the best exploratory evidence to help in the ophthalmological diagnosis.

Macular neurosensory retinal detachment associated with topiramate use. / Desprendimiento de retina neurosensorial macular asociado al uso de topiramato.

A 36 year-old woman with idiopathic intracranial hypertension was treated with topiramate and acetazolamide. The patient was followed-up for 2 years, with a relationship between neurosensory detachments and topiramate being established, with recurrences after the introduction of topiramato and improvement after its withdrawal. These findings point topiramate as a possible cause of the clinical picture. Topiramate may cause retinal and macular neurosensory detachments. Although the ciliochoroidal effusion cases caused by this drug are well-known, its retinal side effects are less common. As it is a widely used drug, neurologists and ophthalmologists should be aware of its possible ocular side effects.