Significance of an Interprofessional Healthy Aging Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Narrative Study.

Participation is widely recognized as an important health determinant for older adults. Exploring interventions to promote active participation of community-dwelling older adults is an important step in translating current knowledge into practice. Few studies have examined community-level interventions to support older adults' participation. The study purpose was to examine the significance of the lived experiences of community-dwelling older adults who participated in an interprofessional healthy aging promotion program. The specific aims were to uncover the narrative significance of the lived experiences and how they evolved and intertwined with the life histories of the older adults 2 years after the intervention ended. A narrative inquiry design was used. Four key informants participated in two semi-structured interviews and a member-checking process. The data were analyzed from a three-dimensional inquiry space of time and continuity, place and context, and social interactions. The findings affirmed three core threads that wove the participants' lived experiences within the program together with their life histories after the intervention. These were enjoyment, learning, and sharing. Four themes revealed the essential elements of the lived experience, and three others exposed participants' growth and life enrichment, all being fundamental to participation. The 3-year community-level intervention was valued and a novel opportunity for facilitating participation and successful aging. It allowed the participants to acquire an evolved vision of self, have meaningful interactions, develop the means to engage in future community activities, implement new self-care strategies, and establish memories and friendships significant for life participation.

Depressed indurated plaque with elastorrhexis as a distinctive lesion in Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome.

Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome (BOS) is a rare autosomal dominant genodermatosis caused by heterozygous mutations in LEMD3 and characterized by connective tissue nevi and sclerotic bone lesions known as osteopoikilosis. We report a family with three individuals affected by BOS, two of whom manifested clinical and histopathological peculiarities, presenting with a depressed indurated plaque as the main cutaneous manifestation instead of the classic connective tissue nevi. Notable elastorrhexis was present in both biopsies.

Is cancer back?-psychological issues faced by survivors of breast cancer.

Breast cancer survival rates have shown notable improvements over the years thanks to advancements in detection, treatment modalities, and supportive care. However, survivors often encounter challenges when reintegrating into daily life and managing persistent physical and psychological concerns. This review article aims to delve into the multifaceted emotional complexities faced by survivors, encompassing a spectrum of issues from fear of recurrence to body image insecurities, thus emphasizing the imperative for comprehensive support. Articles were reviewed through searches of PubMed and through searches of the author's own file. We will examine not only the risk factors contributing to heightened psychological distress but also the periods of vulnerability and the most common unmet needs encountered by these individuals. Additionally, we will discuss various psychological interventions and strategies designed to promote resilience and enhance the quality of life post-diagnosis. Furthermore, we will underscore the pressing need for ongoing, specific research endeavors aimed at addressing the long-term psychological impacts of cancer recurrence on survivorship. By shedding light on these critical aspects, we aim not only to provide insight into the challenges faced by survivors but also to advocate for the importance of integrating comprehensive psychological support into survivorship care. Through this thorough exploration, we seek to empower both survivors and healthcare professionals alike, facilitating a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in the breast cancer survivorship journey. Ultimately, our aim is to highlight the crucial aspects that must be considered by healthcare professionals in providing holistic care to breast cancer survivors.

An evaluation of stakeholder engagement in comparative effectiveness research: lessons learned from SWOG S1415CD.

Aim: Stakeholder engagement is central to comparative effectiveness research yet there are gaps in definitions of success. We used a framework developed by Lavallee et al. defining effective engagement criteria to evaluate stakeholder engagement during a pragmatic cluster-randomized trial. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were developed from the framework and completed to learn about members' experiences. Interviews were analyzed in a deductive approach for themes related to the effective engagement criteria. Results: Thirteen members participated and described: respect for ideas, time to achieve consensus, access to information and continuous feedback as areas of effective engagement. The primary criticism was lack of diversity. Discussion: Feedback was positive, particularly among themes of respect, trust and competence, and led to development of a list of best practices for engagement. The framework was successful for evaluating engagement. Conclusion: Standardized frameworks allow studies to formally evaluate their stakeholder engagement approach and develop best practices for future research.

What is this article about? This article is about the evaluation of how effective the stakeholder engagement was in a comparative effectiveness research (CER) study funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The research team found a framework (developed by Lavalle et al.) that defined six different criteria for effective stakeholder engagement, and used that criteria to complete semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders involved with our study. These interviews were reviewed to determine what stakeholder engagement processes were successful and helped provide a list of best practices for stakeholder engagement for other researchers doing CER. What were the results? Stakeholders highlighted respect for their ideas, time to achieve consensus, easy access to information and a continuous feedback loop between study team and stakeholders as effective engagement processes. What do the results mean? These results can help other researchers doing CER learn best practices to implement from the outset of a study to best engage stakeholders in their research. The results also show that having a standardized framework to evaluate stakeholder engagement is important and allows for research teams to formally evaluate their engagement approach and learn what was successful and where there are areas for improvement in future studies.

Teletrabalho e saúde no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19 / Telework and health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Resumo Introdução: com a pandemia de COVID-19 e a política de distanciamento social, quase 9 milhões de trabalhadores tiveram suas atividades profissionais transferidas para o ambiente doméstico. Esse contexto funcionou como um laboratório no qual as empresas puderam experimentar a modalidade do teletrabalho. Objetivo: analisar o crescimento do teletrabalho e o perfil dos teletrabalhadores, destacando impactos e consequências para saúde dos profissionais. Métodos: análise de bibliografia pertinente, exploração de dados secundários de pesquisas sobre condições objetivas e subjetivas do teletrabalho, publicações sobre o teletrabalho no contexto da pandemia e pós-pandemia, análise de anúncios de trabalho remoto. Resultados: em razão da forma como ocorreu durante a pandemia, o trabalho remoto, além das consequências para saúde e condições de vida e trabalho, acarretou novos desafios para a classe trabalhadora. Entre eles, destacam-se: como assegurar condições ambientais e ergonômicas adequadas ao trabalho e como garantir o limite de jornada, a delimitação do tempo de trabalho, tendo em vista a tendência de sua manutenção para o período pós-pandemia. Conclusão: a análise revelou impactos sobre a saúde dos trabalhadores, com novos desafios para a classe trabalhadora. Tais impactos, entre outras razões, se devem a jornadas ampliadas, condições ergonômicas no domicílio e pressões para cumprimento de metas.

Abstract Introduction: with the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing policy, almost 9 million workers had their professional activities transferred to the home environment, called "remote work," "home office," or "telework." This context worked as a laboratory in which companies could experiment with teleworking. Objective: to analyze the unprecedented telework growth and the teleworkers' profile, highlighting the impacts and consequences for the workers' health. Methods: analysis of relevant bibliography, exploration of secondary data from empirical research on objective and subjective teleworking conditions, publications in the media about telework in the pandemic and post-pandemic context, and analysis of remote work ads. Results: due to the way remote work occurred during the pandemic, in addition to its consequences for health, and living and working conditions, new challenges were raised for the working class. Among them: how to ensure adequate environmental and ergonomic working conditions and how to guarantee the limit of working hours, and the delimitation of working time, in view of the tendency for telework to be maintained in the post-pandemic period. Conclusion: the analysis revealed impacts on workers' health that bring new challenges to the working class. Such impacts, among other reasons, are due to extended working hours, ergonomic conditions at home, and pressure to meet goals.

Enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en pacientes y familias con retinosis pigmentaria

Fundamento: la retinosis pigmentaria, enfermedad ocular de origen genético y baja prevalencia, progresa lentamente en años hacia el deterioro visual severo y afecta el desempeño social. En el Servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital Docente Clínico Quirúrgico Dr. Salvador Allende, existe un protocolo asistencial institucional que incluye la atención sistemática e integral de los afectados. Objetivo: identificar las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en pacientes con retinosis pigmentaria y en sus familiares. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, realizado entre marzo 2016-marzo 2022, con muestreo no probabilístico e intencionado. Se seleccionaron pacientes y familias registradas en la base de datos del servicio, residentes en los municipios Cerro y Plaza, en La Habana. Resultados: de 145 personas estudiadas (74 enfermos de retinosis pigmentaria y 71 familiares), 138 (95,1 %) presentaban enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, entre las que se destacan la hipertensión arterial (29,7 %), la diabetes mellitus (21,0 %) y la asociación de ambas (13,0 %). En la dispensarización comunitaria se incluyen en el Grupo 4 las personas con déficit visual y además en otros grupos de dispensarización para atender mejor los factores de riesgo y enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles halladas en ellos. Conclusiones: la identificación de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles fue útil, para desplegar una atención médica holística e interdisciplinaria que facilite la prevención de enfermedades y complicaciones, permita preservar la visión, optimizar la rehabilitación visual y la calidad de vida. Se recomienda aplicar atento cuidado y mejorar la educación sanitaria en pacientes con retinosis pigmentaria.

Background: retinitis pigmentosa, an ocular disease of genetic origin and low prevalence, slowly progresses over years towards severe visual impairment and affects social performance. In the Ophthalmology Service of the Dr. Salvador Allende Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital, there is an institutional care protocol that includes systematic and comprehensive care for those affected. Objective: to identify chronic non-communicable diseases in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and their relatives. Methods: descriptive, prospective study carried out between March 2016-March 2022, with non-probabilistic and intentional sampling. Patients and families registered in the service's database, residing in the Cerro and Plaza municipalities, in Havana, were selected. Results: of 145 people studied (74 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 71 relatives), 138 (95.1%) had non-communicable chronic diseases, among which arterial hypertension (29.7%), diabetes mellitus (21 0.0%) and the association of both (13.0%). In community dispensing, people with visual impairment are included in Group 4 and also in other dispensing groups to better attend to the risk factors and chronic non-communicable diseases found in them. Conclusions: the identification of chronic non-communicable diseases was useful to deploy holistic and interdisciplinary medical care that facilitates the prevention of diseases and complications, preserves vision, optimizes visual rehabilitation and quality of life. It is recommended to apply attentive care and improve health education in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Necesidad de tratamiento estomatológico en niños discapacitados de La Habana / Necessidade de tratamento estomatológico em crianças deficientes em Havana / Need for stomatological treatment in disabled children of Havana

Introducción: el paciente discapacitado constituye un grupo priorizado dentro de la atención estomatológica cubana ya que su salud bucal está influenciada por diversos factores. Objetivo: determinar factores de riesgo, enfermedades bucales, así como la necesidad de tratamiento estomatológico de los pacientes discapacitados según la categoría diagnóstica de la Escuela Especial Luis Ramírez López. Método: estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en el período comprendido entre 2016-2017. El universo estuvo constituido por los 72 alumnos matriculados en la escuela. Resultados: la categoría diagnosticada que prevaleció fue el retraso mental leve con 79,2 por ciento. El 55,6 por ciento de la población estudiada presentó higiene bucal adecuada, siendo el retraso mental leve la categoría más representativa. El 62,5 por ciento de los niños presentó caries dental, el 60.0 por ciento enfermedad periodontal y el 33,3 por ciento maloclusión. De la población estudiada el 62,5 por ciento necesitó tratamiento conservador, el 33,3 tratamiento ortodóntico y el 9,7 tratamiento periodontal. Conclusiones: predominaron los niños con retraso mental leve, higiene bucal adecuada y caries dental, condicionando una alta necesidad de tratamiento conservador(AU)

Introduction: the disabled patient is a prioritized group in Cuban dental care since his or her oral health is influenced by several factors. Objective: to determine risk factors, oral diseases, as well as the need for stomatological treatment of disabled patients according to the diagnostic category of the Special School Luis Ramirez Lopez. Method: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in the period 2016-2017. The universe was constituted by the 72 students enrolled in the school. Results: the diagnosed category that prevailed was mild mental retardation with 79.2 percent. 55.6 percent of the studied population presented adequate oral hygiene, with mild mental retardation being the most representative category. 62.5 percent of children had dental caries, 60.0 percent periodontal disease and 33.3 percent malocclusion. Of the population, 62.5 percent required conservative treatment, 33.3 orthodontic treatments and 9.7 periodontal treatments. Conclusions: children with mild Mental retardation predominated with adequate oral hygiene, dental caries also conditioning a high need for conservative treatment(AU)

Introdução: o paciente com deficiência é um grupo prioritário no atendimento odontológico cubano, uma vez que sua saúde bucal é influenciada por vários fatores. Objetivo: determinar fatores de risco, doenças bucais, bem como a necessidade de tratamento estomatológico de pacientes com deficiência de acordo com a categoria diagnóstica da Escola Especial Luis Ramírez López. Método: estudo transversal no período 2016-2017. O universo consistiu de 72 alunos matriculados na escola. Resultados: A categoria que prevaleceu foi diagnosticado retardo mental leve, com 79,2 por cento. 55,6 por cento da população do estudo tinha a higiene oral, retardo mental leve adequada sendo a categoria mais representativa. 62,5 por cento das crianças tinham cárie dentária, doença periodontal 60,0 por cento e 33,3 por cento de má oclusão. Da população de estudo de 62,5 por cento tratamento conservador necessário, 33,3 e 9,7 tratamento ortodôntico tratamento periodontal. Conclusões: predominaram as crianças com retardo mental leve, boa higiene oral e cárie dentária, determinando uma alta necessidade de tratamento conservador. Método: estudo descritivo transversal, realizado no período 2016-2017. O universo foi constituído pelos 72 alunos matriculados na escola. Resultados: a categoria diagnosticada que prevaleceu foi o retardo mental leve com 79,2 por cento. 55,6 por cento da população estudada apresentavam higiene bucal adequada, sendo o retardo mental leve a categoria mais representativa. 62,5% das crianças tinham cárie dentária, 60,0 por cento doença periodontal e 33,3 por cento maloclusão. Da população estudada, 62,5% necessitaram de tratamento conservador, 33,3 tratamento ortodôntico e 9,7 tratamento periodontal. Conclusões: crianças com retardo mental leve, higiene bucal adequada e cárie dentária predominaram, condicionando grande necessidade de tratamento conservador(AU)

Capacidad funcional, repercusión psicológica y social y calidad de vida de ancianos con degeneración macular involutiva / Functional capacity, psychological and social repercussion and quality of life in elders with involute macular

Introducción: la degeneración macular involutiva es causa importante de discapacidad visual en los ancianos. Objetivo: identificar la capacidad funcional, repercusión psicológica y social, y calidad de vida de los ancianos con degeneración macular involutiva. Material y Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal en 230 gerontes del área de salud Héroes de Girón con esta enfermedad durante 2007. Se analizaron las variables edad, sexo, color de la piel, agudeza visual, discapacidad visual, tipo clínico de degeneración macular, capacidad funcional, repercusión psicológica, calidad de vida y repercusión social. Resultados: predominaron los pacientes entre 70 y 79 años (73,91%), las mujeres (66,08%), la piel blanca (65,21%), los débiles visuales moderados (42,17%), la maculopatía (49,77%), la dependencia con demanda de ayuda (38,26%), la pérdida de roles o autoestima (71,73%), la insatisfacción con su vida actual (80,86%) con evidencia de minusvalía (67,82%) y la repercusión social, solo en 6,52%, no parece existir. Conclusiones: la mayoría de los ancianos con la enfermedad presentan dependencia funcional. La disminución de la capacidad funcional repercute psicológica y socialmente en su vida diaria,y disminuye su calidad de vida.

Introduction: the involute macular degeneration is important cause of visual disability in the elders. Objective: to identify the functional capacity, psychological and social repercussion and quality of life of the elders with involute macular degeneration. Material and Methods: a descriptive and transverse study was carried out in 230 elders of the Health Area «Héroes de Girón¼ with this illness during the year 2007. The variable age, sex, color of the skin, visual sharpness, and visual disability, clinical type of macular degeneration, functional capacity, psychological repercussion, quality of life and social repercussion were analyzed. Results: prevailed the patients between 70 and 79 years (73,91 %), the women (66,08 %), the white skin (65,21 %), the moderate visual dweebs (42,17 %), the maculophaty (49,77 %), the dependence with help´s demand (38,26 %), the loss of rolls or self-esteem (71,73 %), the dissatisfaction with its current life (80,86 %) with handicapped evidence (67,82 %) and the social repercussion, only in 6,52 % it doesn't seem to exist. Conclusions: most of the elders with the illness present functional dependence. The decrease of the functional capacity rebounds psychological and socially in its daily life, diminishing its quality of life.

Retinosis pigmentaria y embarazo / Retinitis pigmentosa and pregnancy

Introducción: la retinosis pigmentaria comprende un grupo de enfermedades degenerativas de origen genético y hereditario que causan importante invalidez visual.Objetivo: evaluar cambios oftalmológicos de la agudeza y campo visual en mujeres con retinosis pigmentaria durante y después del embarazo.Métodos: estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, longitudinal realizado en el Centro de Referencia Nacional de Retinosis Pigmentaria de La Habana (1999-2011). Agudeza y campo visuales fueron evaluados en seis etapas por 21 meses desde la captación. Se tomaron los valores cuantitativos de estos parámetros utilizando estándares visuales de la Asociación Médica Americana. Se realizó análisis estadístico con SPSS versión 11.5, con un nivel de significación de 0,01 e intervalo de confianza de 95 porciento para la consideración de media, desviación estándar y frecuencia como medida de resumen.Resultados: se estudiaron 59 mujeres con edad media de 27,11 años (DS 6,7), diferentes tipos de herencia de la retinosis pigmentaria y número variable de gestaciones. Presentaban 24 embarazadas (40,7 porciento), herencia autosómica-recesiva y 18 (30,5 porciento) sin herencia definida. Durante el embarazo 36 (61,0 porciento) empeoraron la agudeza visual y 47 (79,7 porciento) disminuyeron el campo visual lo que fue más notable a partir del 3er. trimestre. Al final del estudio 50 gestantes (84,7 porciento) deterioraron su función visual, sobre todo en aquellas con herencia autosómica recesiva y multigrávidas.Conclusiones: existieron cambios irreversibles en la agudeza y campo visual durante y aún después de la gestación en las mujeres con retinosis pigmentaria. El embarazo ha afectado negativamente de forma moderada la función visual y la evolución de la retinosis pigmentaria

Introduction: retinitis pigmentosa is a group of degenerative diseases of genetic origin and hereditary cause which results in important visual disability.Objective: to assess eye acuity and visual field changes in retinitis pigmentosa women during and after pregnancy.Methods: a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted at the National Reference Center of Retinitis Pigmentosa in Havana (1999-2011). Acuity and visual field were evaluated in six stages for 21 months since recruitment. The quantitative values of these parameters were taken using visual standards of the American Medical Association. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 11.5, with a significance level of 0.01 and confidence interval of 95 per cent for the consideration of mean, standard deviation and frequency as a measure of summary.Results: 59 women were studied with a mean age of 27.11 years (SD 6.7), different types of inheritance of retinitis pigmentosa and variable number of pregnancies. 24 were pregnant (40.7 per cent) had autosomal-recessive and 18 (30.5 per cent) no definite inheritance. During pregnancy, 36 (61.0 per cent) worsened visual acuity and 47 (79.7 per cent) decreased the visual field that was most remarkable from the 3rd. quarter. At the end of the study, 50 pregnant women (84.7 per cent) deteriorated visual function, especially those with autosomal recessive inheritance and multigravidae.Conclusions: there were irreversible changes in visual acuity and field during and even after pregnancy in women with retinitis pigmentosa. Pregnancy has negatively affected moderately visual function and evolution of retinitis pigmentosa

Características clínicas y evolución de la retinosis pigmentaria en los adolescentes / Clinical characteristics and evolution of retinosis pigmentosa in adolescents

Introducción. La retinosis pigmentaria es la causa más frecuente de distrofia retiniana. En la adolescencia comienzan enfermedades oculares de tipo distrófico, origen genético y curso progresivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar las características clínicas y evolución de la retinosis pigmentaria en la adolescencia. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y prospectivo en jóvenes de edad entre 10 y 14 años (Grupo I), y entre 15 y 19 años (Grupo II), de uno y otro sexo, que fueron atendidos en el Centro de Retinosis Pediátrico Nacional entre 2002 y 2006. Se observó herencia, síntomas, edad, tiempo transcurrido, enfermedades generales y electrorretinograma. Los medios transparentes, fondo de ojo, biomicroscopia y perimetría se hicieron al inicio, al año y al final del estudio. Se clasificaron los casos en 4 estadios atendiendo a la agudeza y campo visual. Resultados. Predominaron los pacientes del sexo masculino y color blanco de la piel. Se hallaron opacidades del cristalino en 61 ojos (71,4 por ciento), principalmente en el grupo 2. Al final del estudio 32 adolescentes (76,2 por ciento) no tuvieron evolución progresiva; 5 (11,9 por ciento), medianamente progresiva y 5 (11,9 por ciento), muy progresiva, con marcado empeoramiento de la función visual. Conclusiones. Las características de la retinosis pigmentaria identificadas en la mayoría de los jóvenes concuerdan con los primeros estadios de la enfermedad. La evolución durante 5 años no ha sido progresiva en la mayoría de los adolescentes de uno y otro grupo, lo que nos hace considerar que los cambios biológicos de esta etapa de la vida, aparentemente no influyen empeorando el curso de la enfermedad ocular.

Introduction. Retinosis pigmentosa is the most frequent cause of retina dystrophy. Ocular diseases of dystrophic type, genetic origin and progressive course appear in adolescence. The objective of the present study is to identify the clinical characteristics and evolution of retinosis pigmentosa in adolescence. Methods. A descriptive and prospective study was conducted among young subjects aged 10-14 (group 1) and 15-19 (group II) of both sexes that were seen at the National Pediatric Centre of Retinosis between 2002 and 2006. Heredity, symptoms, age, time elapsed; general diseases and electroretinogram were observed. The transparent means, fundus oculi, biomicroscopy and perimetry were performed at the beginning, at a year and at the end of the study. Taking into consideration the acuity and visual field, the cases were classified into 4 stages. RESULTS. White males prevailed. Opacities of the crystalline were found in 61 eyes (71.4 percent), mainly in group 2. At the end of the study, 32 adolescents (76.2 percent) had no progressive evolution; 5 (11.9 percent), fairly progressive; and 5 (11.9 percent), very progressive, with a marked worsening of the visual function. Conclusions. The characteristics of retinosis pigementosa identified in most of the youth agreed with the first stages of the disease. The evolution has not been progressive in most of the adolescents of both groups, which makes us think that the biological changes of this stage of life do not apparently worsen the course of the ocular disease.

Características clínicas y evolución de la retinosis pigmentaria en adolescentes / Clinical characteristics and evolution of retinitis pigmentosa in adolescents

Objetivo: Identificar las características clínicas y la evolución de la retinosis pigmentaria en la adolescenciaMétodo: Estudio descriptivo y prospectivo en adolescentes entre 10 y 14 años de edad (grupo I) y entre 15 y 19 años, (grupo II), del sexo masculino y del femenino, atendidos en Centro de Referencia Nacional de Retinosis Pigmentaria- Pediátrico entre 2002 y 2006. Se observó herencia, síntoma inicial y edad, tiempo transcurrido y enfermedades generales concomitantes y los signos del FO por biomicroscopia y oftalmoscopia, perimetría y ERG al inicio, anual y al final. Se clasificó el estadio en 4 etapas atendiendo a parámetros como agudeza visual con corrección. y CVResultados: Entre los 42 adolescentes predominaron los varones y el color de la piel blanca. El DVP estuvo presente en 12 ojos (14,2 por ciento), las opacidades del cristalino en 61 ojos (71,4 por ciento), principalmente en el grupo 2. Al final del estudio, según la agudeza visual y CV, 32 adolescentes (76,2 por ciento) tuvieron con evolución no progresiva, en 5 (11,9 por ciento) fue medianamente progresiva y en 5 (11,9 por ciento) fue muy progresiva pues hubo marcado empeoramiento de la función visual.Conclusiones: Las características de la retinosis pigmentaria que se identificaron en los adolescentes se incluyen entre los 3 primeros estadios. La evolución durante 5 años no fue progresiva en la mayoría de los adolescentes de ambos grupos, lo cual induce a considerar que los cambios biológicos de esta etapa de la vida aparentemente no influyen en el curso de la retinosis pigmentaria.

Objectives: Identify the clinical characteristics and evolution of retinitis pigmentosa in adolescents.Method: A prospective descriptive study of adolescents aged 10 to 14 years (group I) and 15-19 years (group II) of both sexes and treated at the National Reference Center of Pediatric Retinitis Pigmentosa from 2002 to 2006. Inheritance, initial symptoms, age, time elapsed and general concomitant diseases, FO signs by biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy, perimetry and ERG at the beginning, annually and at the end were all examined. Four stagings were set up according to parameters such as visual acuity with correction and CVResults: Males and Caucasians predominated in the 42 studied teenagers. DVP was present in 12 eyes (14.2), crystalline opacities were found in 61 eyes (71.4 percent) mainly in the group II. At the end of the study, according to the visual acuity and CV, 32 adolescents (76,2 percent) did not have progressive evolution of the disease, 5 (11,9 percent) had moderately progressive and 5 (11,9 percent) showed very progressive evolution since there was marked worsening of the visual function.Conclusions: The identified characteristics of retinitis pigmentosa in adolescents were within the three first stagings. Evolution was not progressive for 5 years in most of adolescents from both groups, which led us to consider that the biological changes in this period of life seem to have no influence in the course of retinitis pigmentosa.