Treatment delays for patients with new-onset rheumatoid arthritis presenting to an Australian early arthritis clinic.

BACKGROUND: Early treatment ensures optimal outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) yet there are limited data in Australia quantifying treatment delays in clinical practice. AIMS: To quantify treatment delays in new RA patients and to explore factors influencing delay and resultant patient outcomes. METHODS: Data were obtained for 88 patients presenting with a new diagnosis of RA to an early arthritis clinic (EAC) in Australia between 2008 and 2015. Date and details of symptom onset, initial general practitioner (GP) presentation, GP referral and review at EAC were collected. Patient demographics and clinical features were analysed for outcomes and features predictive of delay. RESULTS: Median overall delay from symptom onset to rheumatology review was 26.4 weeks. Patient delay (8.7 weeks) was the longest delay and predicted overall delay. Delays in GP referral and time to EAC review were 4 and 8.4 weeks respectively. Increased overall delay was predicted by lower fatigue and disease activity scores (DAS28) and increased tender joint counts (TJC). Patient delay was increased by socioeconomic disadvantage. Increased GP delay was associated with lower DAS28 and higher TJC and ESR. Patients seen within 16 weeks had greater improvement in DAS28 and probability of remission at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this Australian EAC setting, patient delay was the greatest contributor to RA treatment delay. Delays in treatment were associated with lower disease severity and socioeconomic disadvantage. Remission was more likely after prompt initiation of treatment.

Spontaneous hyphema from iris microhemangioma in Eisenmenger syndrome.

Purpose: We describe a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome and spontaneous hyphema from iris microhemangioma, two rare entities with a plausible pathophysiological connection. Observations: A 56-year-old Caucasian female with a background of cyanotic congenital heart disease complicated by Eisenmenger syndrome presented with non-traumatic hyphema and blurred vision. Multiple vascular tufts consistent with iris microhemangiomas were observed around the pupil margins bilaterally, with no iris or retinal neovascularization. In the affected eye, there was active bleeding from one lesion at 12 o'clock generating a macrohyphema. Additional findings included prominent episcleral injection and retinal venous tortuosity in both eyes. The active microhemorrhage and hyphema resolved with local medical management. Conclusions and importance: Chronic hypoxemia and erythrocytosis are known to induce dilation of the retinal and episcleral blood vessels in Eisenmenger syndrome. Corresponding dilation of iris stromal vessels may contribute to the formation and prominence of iris microhemangiomas.

Patient Expectation, Satisfaction and Clinical Outcomes with a New Multifocal Intraocular Lens.

PURPOSE: To report patient expectations, visual performance and satisfaction with AcrySof IQ PanOptix multifocal intraocular lens in a heterogeneous patient group. Additionally, determine if identifiable pre-operative characteristics can predict post-operative satisfaction. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for 67 consecutive patients (134 eyes) who underwent bilateral Panoptix implantation in a private ophthalmology clinic. A pre-operative questionnaire was completed regarding vision satisfaction, visual phenomena and expectations. Routine clinical parameters were collected 1 month and follow-up questionnaire administered 3 months post-operatively. RESULTS: Post-operative unaided distance vision was 20/20 (0.01 ± 0.10) and binocular near vision 20/25-2 (N5; 0.14 ± 0.06). Patients satisfied with vision increased from 6% (n=4) unaided and 48% (n=32) aided pre-operatively to 94% (n=63) unaided post-operatively (p<0.001). There was marked increase in frequency of halo from 14% (n=9) to 69% (n=46; p<0.001) but no corresponding increase in how bothersome this symptom was (p=0.193) nor the frequency of other visual phenomena. Worse post-operative vision and fluctuating vision were associated with lower post-operative satisfaction. There was no difference in satisfaction or residual astigmatism in those implanted with toric lenses. A total of 96% (n=64) of patients were spectacle-free at 3-months and would recommend this procedure to others. CONCLUSION: This study supports the trend towards increased patient expectations of multifocal intraocular lenses, matched by excellent visual outcomes and satisfaction. Visual phenomena may be less troubling with new multifocal lenses than previously reported. A pre-operative questionnaire may be a useful education tool but could not isolate pre-operative characteristics that predict post-operative satisfaction.