Etiology of uveitis in rural and urban areas of mid-eastern Poland.

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the frequencies of uveitis etiology in inhabitants of rural and urban areas of mid-eastern Poland. We reviewed the cases of 563 patients (263 males, 300 females; aged 2-87) with uveitis, treated at the 1st Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical Academy in Lublin and at the District Ophthalmic Hospital in Kielce, Poland, from January 1996-December 2000. Anatomical classification of uveitis was used according to the International Uveitis Study Group and etiological classification including uveitis associated with trauma, infection, systemic disease, non-associated with a systemic disease and masquerade syndromes. Data regarding age, gender, place of residence, anatomical location and etiology of uveitis were obtained. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-square test, Spearman's rank correlation test and logistic regression. Etiology of uveitis was established in 70.0% of cases. The most common cause of uveitis was infection. Patients from rural areas were significantly more likely to have uveitis of infectious origin whereas patients from urban areas significantly more likely to have uveitis associated with a systemic disease. In conclusion, the pattern of uveitis in mid-eastern Poland confirms the influence of environmental factors on the etiology of this heterogenous disease.

[Evaluation and monitoring of selected inflammation patterns in uveitis using laser tyndallometry]. / Ocena i monitorowanie wybranych postaci zapalenia blony naczyniowej przy uzyciu tyndalometrii laserowej.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the degree of inflammation and to monitor the dynamics of the blood-aqueous barrier disruption in selected cases of uveitis using laser tyndalometry. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Measurements with the use of laser tyndalometer (Kowa FM-500) were performed in 72 patients (90 eyes) with various types of uveitis. They were divided into four groups: anterior uveitis (28 eyes), intermediate uveitis (pars planitis) (28 eyes), posterior uveitis (26 eyes) and panuveitis (8 eyes). Aqueous flare values were expressed as photon counts per millisecond. RESULTS: Tyndalometric mean values in control eyes were 4.8 +/- 1.0 ph/msec. Mean initial flare was pronounced in multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis--196.0 ph/msec, HLA-B27 positive acute anterior uveitis--145.4 ph/msec, and in acute herpes zoster anterior uveitis--52.4 ph/msec. It was mild to moderate in Fuchs uveitis syndrome--7.8 ph/msec, pars planitis--15.7 ph/msec, posterior uveitis in toxoplasmosis--6.8 ph/msec and toxocariasis--17.5 ph/msec. The potential of laser flare-meter for precise follow-up and adjustment of therapy was demonstrated in selected cases. CONCLUSIONS: Laser tyndalometry has been proved to be a useful tool for the objective and quantitative evaluation of anterior chamber flare in uveitis and for monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment, thus improving therapeutic efficacy of uveitis.

[Clinical manifestation and diagnosis of ocular borreliosis]. / Obraz kliniczny i diagnostyka boreliozy ukladu wzrokowego.

PURPOSE: To present severe involvements of Borrelia burgdorferi in the etiology of uveitis, optic neuritis and other ocular inflammatory conditions. METHODS: IgM and IgG antibodies for Borrelia burgdorferi were detected by ELISA. Since May 1995 we have examined 78 patients for borreliosis. RESULTS: Borreliosis was diagnosed in 11 patients (4 males, 7 females; aged 7 to 48). 7 persons remembered being bitten by a tick, 3 months to 3 years before the onset of ocular symptoms. All patients had systemic symptoms and signs. Ocular manifestations were as follows: nonspecific chronic conjunctivitis in 4 patients, keratitis in 2, diminished corneal sensation in 1, iritis in 1, intermediate uveitis and perivasculitis in 1, posterior uveitis in 3, retinal haemorrhage in 1, optic neuritis in 1, optic disc oedema in 2, sixth nerve paresis in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: We emphasize the importance of performing serological tests for borreliosis in patients with uveitis, inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology, optic neuritis and other neuro-ophthalmic conditions.

[Zinsser-Engman-Cole syndrome (dyskeratosis congenita) with severe sicca syndrome, panuveitis and corneal perforation--a case report]. / Zinsser-Engman-Cole-Syndrom (Dyskeratosis congenita) mit schwerem Sicca-Syndrom, Panuveitis und Hornhautperforation--eine Kasuistik.

BACKGROUND: Zinsser-Engman-Cole syndrome (Z.E.C.) is a very rare type of ectodermal dysplasia, inherited in X-linked recessive manner and characterised by poikiloderma, nail dystrophy, lingual leucoplakia, bone marrow hypoplasia, hyperkeratosis and hyperhidrosis of planta and palms, dental anomalies and caries, premature grey hair. PATIENT AND METHODS: We report on a 46-year-old man who presented with occlusion of lacrimal puncta, trichiasis, severe dry eye, recurrent corneal ulceration and perforation, uveitis. HLA typing, flow cytometry of peripheral lymphocytes, bone marrow biopsy, conjunctival biopsy and extensive laboratory evaluation towards autoimmune and infectious diseases were performed. RESULTS: CD4+ T cells fraction was decreased, CD8+ and CD3+ HLA DR+ elevated. The patient was HLA-B27 positive. Laboratory studies revealed increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level, hypochromic and hypoplastic anaemia, negative serum titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus, HIV, HTLV-I, toxoplasma gondii and treponema pallidum, repeated titers to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses--IgM negative, IgG positive. Corneal perforation was treated with amniotic membrane transplantation and corneal transplantation. CONCLUSION: The defect in cell-mediated immune mechanisms in Z.E.C. syndrome explains the corneal perforation, sicca syndrome and uveitis, first reported in this syndrome.