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Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare dacryocystectomy (DCT) versus dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in patients with dacryocystitis in terms of tearing complaints. Methods: We conducted a retrospective and comparative study on 19 patients. The main outcome measure was defined as an improvement by 1 point of the Munk score postoperatively. Results: A total of 19 patients were included with 10 in the DCR group and 9 in the DCT group. The primary endpoint was reached in 7 (70%) and in 6 (67%) patients in the DCR and DCT groups, respectively (p > 0.999). All DCR procedures were performed under general anesthesia (GA), while almost all DCT procedures were performed under local anesthesia (LA) (p < 0.001). There was a higher need for hospitalization in the DCR group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that DCR is not always the solution in the case of dacryocystitis. DCT is a viable surgical procedure, especially in elderly patients without any tearing complaint and with underlying dry eye disease.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: Management of Graves' ophthalmopathy remains challenging. Over the last decade, previous studies have shown promising results for Rituximab in the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy. We present the response of 14 individuals with active moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy to Rituximab, representing one of the largest retrospective case series reported to date. METHODS: Rituximab was administered intravenously, 1000 mg twice at a 2-week interval. The primary end point was a clinical activity score reduction (improvement by ⩾ 2 points or disease inactivation: clinical activity score < 3) at 24 weeks. Secondary end points included clinical activity score improved by ⩾ 2 points or inactivation of Graves' ophthalmopathy at 12 weeks, improvement in each item of the clinical activity score, in proptosis, in severity disease by the total eye score and in diplopia according to the Gorman score. RESULTS: A limited improvement in clinical activity score was observed (median improvement at 24 weeks by 1 point, p = 0.002, (5/14 patients, 35.7%). Disease inactivation occurred in 50% of patients (7/14 patients). At 12 weeks, clinical activity score improved by ⩾ 2 points in 2/14 patients (14.3%) and inactivation of Graves' ophthalmopathy occurred in four patients (28.6%). Improvement in proptosis and total eye score was observed in 3/9 patients (33%) and in 4/14 patients (28.6%) at 24 weeks, respectively. Only one patient experienced moderate adverse event. CONCLUSION: Rituximab is a well-tolerated treatment with a good safety profile, but offered limited and partial improvement for active moderate-to-severe Graves' ophthalmopathy with a long duration of disease.