Clinical characteristics of intermediate uveitis in Tunisian patients.

To analyze the pattern of intermediate uveitis (IU) in a referral center in Tunisia, North Africa. A retrospective, descriptive study of 87 consecutive patients (145 eyes) examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Monastir (Tunisia) from January 1996 to August 2008. All patients underwent an extensive ocular and systemic history, a complete ophthalmic examination, and fluorescein angiography. Standard diagnostic criteria of IU were employed. The mean follow-up period was 43.2 months (range, 4-65 months). The mean age at diagnosis of IU was 29.1 years (range, 5-54 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.6. Both eyes were affected in 58 patients (66.7%). The best-corrected visual acuity at onset of uveitis ranged from light perception to 20/20 (mean, 20/32). The most frequent ocular findings were vitritis (100%), snowballs (53.8%), and retinal vasculitis (28.3%). Concurrent anterior uveitis was noted in 38.6% of affected eyes. Intermediate uveitis was most commonly idiopathic (86.2%). Systemic associations were found in 13.8%; sarcoidosis (9.2%) and multiple sclerosis (2.3%) were the most common systemic diseases. The ocular complications that developed during the follow-up period included cystoid macular edema (39.3%), cataract (31.7%), inflammatory optic disc involvement (26.2%), and glaucoma or ocular hypertension (9%). One hundred-twelve affected eyes (77.2%) had a final visual acuity more than or equal to 20/40. Factors of poor visual outcome were initial VA less than 20/40 (P = 0.00011), CME (P = 0.0016), and vitritis more than 3+ cells (P = 0.023). In a hospital population in Tunisia, intermediate uveitis started frequently at the 3rd decade. This type of uveitis was most commonly idiopathic. Cystoid macular edema and cataract were the most frequent complications. Visual prognosis appeared to be fairly good.

Pattern of uveitis in Behçet's disease in a referral center in Tunisia, North Africa.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pattern of uveitis in Behçet's disease in Tunisia, North Africa. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 62 patients (111 eyes) diagnosed with Behçet's uveitis (BU) at the Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia, between January 1995 and December 2006. Forty-seven of 62 patients (75.8%) were men and 15 (24.2%) were women. Mean age at onset was 29.3 years. The average follow-up was 75.6 months. The most common extraocular clinical manifestations were recurrent oral ulcer in all patients and pseudofolliculitis in 52 patients (83.9%). Uveitis was bilateral in 79%. Initial best-corrected visual acuity was > or =20/40 in 41 affected eyes (36.9%) and <20/200 in 49 affected eyes (44.2%). Panuveitis (68 eyes, 61.3%) and posterior uveitis (38 eyes, 34.2%) were the most common forms, followed by anterior uveitis (five eyes, 4.5%). Retinal vasculitis was found in 89 eyes (80.2%). Most common complications included posterior synechiae (32.4%), cataract (31.5%), and cystoid macular edema (19.8%). Systemic corticosteroids were administered in 58 patients (93.5%). Immunosuppressive drugs were used in 22 patients (35.5%). Fifty-six affected eyes (50.5%) had final visual acuity > or =20/40 and 34 affected eyes (30.6%) had final visual acuity <20/200. In Tunisia, BU affects predominantly young men. Bilateral panuveitis associated with retinal vasculitis was the most common ocular manifestation. More than 50% of patients maintained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and immunosuppressive therapy probably contributed to the improvement of visual prognosis of these patients.

External ophthalmomyiasis manifesting with keratouveitis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of external ophthalmomyiasis manifesting with keratouveitis. CASE REPORT: A 77-year-old man, presented with keratouveitis secondary to external ophthalmomyiasis. Slit-lamp examination of the affected eye disclosed subepithelial linear opacities, stromal keratitis, and anterior uveitis. There were also some moving maggots identified as Oestrus ovis larvae. Following removal of the maggots and instillation of tobramycin, the symptoms completely resolved within 2 days and visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: Although external ophthalmomyiasis usually manifests with ocular surface involvement, this uncommon condition must be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratouveitis, especially in rural areas.

Emergent infectious uveitis.

Infectious causes should always be considered in all patients with uveitis and it should be ruled out first. The differential diagnosis includes multiple well-known diseases including herpes, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, bartonellosis, Lyme disease, and others. However, clinicians should be aware of emerging infectious agents as potential causes of systemic illness and also intraocular inflammation. Air travel, immigration, and globalization of business have overturned traditional pattern of geographic distribution of infectious diseases, and therefore one should work locally but think globally, though it is not possible always. This review recapitulates the systemic and ocular mainfestations of several emergent infectious diseases relevant to the ophthalmologist including Rickettsioses, West Nile virus infection, Rift valley fever, dengue fever, and chikungunya. Retinitis, chorioretinitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic nerve involvement have been associated with these emergent infectious diseases. The diagnosis of any of these infections is usually based on pattern of uveitis, systemic symptoms and signs, and specific epidemiological data and confirmed by detection of specific antibody in serum. A systematic ocular examination, showing fairly typical fundus findings, may help in establishing an early clinical diagnosis, which allows prompt, appropriate management.

Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) as primary and rescue treatment for choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment modalities for choroidal neovascularization due to ocular toxoplasmosis include laser photocoagulation, surgery, corticosteroids, and verteporfin therapy. Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization due to other conditions appears to be an effective and safe therapeutic option. CASE REPORTS: We report two young patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis who received a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab as primary or rescue therapy. After a follow-up of 12 and 10 months, respectively, visual acuity improved, and features of active neovascularization resolved with no recurrence. No adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab appears to be an effective and safe treatment modality in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular toxoplasmosis. Further evaluation with a longer follow-up period is needed to confirm these findings.

Acute choroidal ischemia associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

PURPOSE: To describe eight patients with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (RC) who had features suggestive of acute choroidal ischemia. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical records of 23 consecutive patients with acute toxoplasmic RC was performed. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination at presentation and throughout follow-up, including dilated biomicroscopic fundus examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography. RESULTS: Of 23 patients, 8 (34.8%) had a large area of retinal whitening surrounding a small focus of RC. Fluorescein as well as ICG angiography showed a well demarcated geographic area of early choroidal hypofluorescence that extended beyond the clinical borders of the white retinal lesion, particularly by ICG angiography. Associated findings for these 8 patients included old retinochoroidal scars (7 [87.5%]), serous retinal detachment (3 [37.5%]), retinal hemorrhages (1 [12.5%]), and multiple satellite dark dots by ICG angiography (6 [75%]). Seven of eight patients were treated using a combination of antitoxoplasmic drugs and corticosteroids. All findings seen at the acute stage resolved in 2 weeks to 6 weeks. A small atrophic retinochoroidal scar replaced the active toxoplasmic lesion and was surrounded with mild or moderate retinal pigment epithelium changes that were associated with decreased final visual acuity in 2 patients (25%). CONCLUSION: Patients with toxoplasmic RC may develop features suggestive of choroidal ischemia that can result in a transient or permanent decrease in vision. Choroidal ischemia can only be suspected clinically, and fluorescein angiography and ICG angiography are required to establish the definitive diagnosis.

Bilateral orbital myeloid sarcoma as initial manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Granulocytic sarcoma is a rare orbital complication of acute leukemia. It concerns primarily children under 10 years of age suffering from primitive acute myeloid leukemia. The diagnosis is made by clinical examination, computed tomography and confirmed by haematological investigations. The treatment approach is based on chemotherapy associated with intravenous steroid therapy. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 6-year-old girl who presented with bilateral proptosis revealing acute myeloid leukemia. The patient was treated by a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs in two phases, associated with intravenous steroids. After a follow-up period of 24 months, the patient was in complete remission. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma should be considered in any orbital mass of uncertain origin, particularly if it is bilateral. Special stains and immunohistochemistry play an important role in the diagnosis.

Pattern of childhood-onset uveitis in a referral center in Tunisia, North Africa.

PURPOSE: To analyze the pattern of childhood uveitis in a referral center in Tunisia, North Africa. METHODS: The study included 64 patients with uveitis examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Monastir (Tunisia) from January 1994 to July 2005. All patients had a comprehensive ocular and systemic history, including an extensive review of medical systems. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed in all cases, including best-corrected Snellen visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, and dilated fundus examination with 3-mirror lens. Standard diagnostic criteria were employed for all syndromes or entities of uveitis. RESULTS: The mean age at onset of uveitis was 12.4 years. The male-to-female ratio was 0.68. The process was unilateral in 51.6% of patients. Mean follow-up was 43.2 months. Anterior and intermediate uveitis each represented 31.25% of cases, posterior uveitis 20.3%, and panuveitis 17.2%. Noninfectious uveitis (75%) was the most frequent type of inflammation. Idiopathic uveitis was found in 50% of patients. Infectious uveitis was responsible for 25% of the cases, with toxoplasmosis (14.1%) being the most frequent cause. Twenty percent of the patients had systemic associations; juvenile idiopathic arthritis was found in 6.25%. Ocular complications occurred in 74.7% of affected eyes, of which the most common were posterior synechiae (28.4%), cataract (17.9%), cystoid macular edema (19%), and optic disc edema (32.6%). Fifty-seven affected eyes (60%) had a final visual acuity more than 20/40 and nine (9.5%) had a final visual acuity less than 20/200. CONCLUSIONS: In a hospital population in Tunisia, a specific cause of uveitis in children was found in half the patients. Idiopathic intermediate uveitis was the leading cause of uveitis in our study, followed by idiopathic anterior uveitis and toxoplasmosis. Uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis was rare. Visual prognosis appeared to be good.

Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy associated with rickettsia conorii infection.

A 43-year-old man with fever, headache, and skin rash developed unilateral acute anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The indirect immunofluorescence test was positive for Rickettsia conorii. Although retinal lesions have been described in Rickettsia conorii infection, this is the first reported case of ischemic optic neuropathy. This infection should be considered in a patient with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy with high fever or skin rash who inhabits or travels from an endemic area.