TRAMADOL-ASSOCIATED BILATERAL CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of bilateral cystoid macular edema in a patient with long-standing tramadol hydrochloride use. METHODS: Observational case report. RESULTS: A 73-year-old female patient was referred for progressive, bilateral decreased visual acuity. The patient was phakic with a best-corrected visual acuity at presentation was 20/50 on the right eye and 20/64 on the left eye. The patient had a history of low back pain and had been on tramadol hydrochloride 200 mg/day for 16 years. Bilateral cystoid macular edema was confirmed by means of multimodal imaging, including optical coherence tomography angiography. Tramadol intake was progressively reduced over one month and then completely interrupted. At 3 months follow-up, the cystoid macular edema had completely resolved and the best-corrected visual acuity improved in both eyes. CONCLUSION: Cystoid macular edema may be associated with longstanding treatment with tramadol hydrochloride. Tramadol hydrochloride-associated cystoid macular edema is described and its resolution on tramadol cessation.

Cutting the subconjunctival fragment of the XEN gel implant during needling procedure.

PURPOSE: To describe the case and the follow-up of an inadvertently damaged XEN gel implant during needling procedure. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 60-year-old African American patient underwent an uncomplicated combined phacoemulsification with the insertion of a XEN gel implant. Two months postoperatively, a needling procedure was required. During the needling procedure, a fragment of the XEN gel implant was inadvertently damaged. One month postoperatively, the intraocular pressure was still controlled and the bleb was functioning well. CONCLUSION: This case report reveals a previously unreported complication concerning XEN gel implant. It is important for the surgeon to pay attention during needling procedure, especially if there is a subconjunctival hemorrhage impairing the view, to defer the procedure until good visibility exists.

Outcomes of Ex-PRESS and Trabeculectomy in a Glaucoma Population of African Origin: One Year Results.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of Ex-PRESS glaucoma filtration surgery to trabeculectomy in African origin patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 56 African American patients undergoing Ex-PRESS glaucoma shunt (E) or trabeculectomy (T) between 2004 and 2012. Data collected included intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medication use at baseline and postoperative week 1, Month (M) 1, M3, M6, M12. Postoperative interventions including laser suture lysis (LSL) and 5FU injections were analyzed. Complete and qualified success rate, and eyes failing and requiring more surgery were determined. Means, SD, chi-square, and Student's t-test were performed. RESULTS: A total of 56 subjects (E 28, T 28) were included in the analysis. There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in IOP and number of glaucoma medications at all time points compared to baseline for both groups. Extent of IOP reduction between groups was not statistically significant at any time point, except postoperative week 1. Mean number of glaucoma medications between groups was not significant, except at 3 months (lower in EXP group). The cumulative number of postoperative interventions within 3 months (LSL and 5-FU) was significantly greater for the TRAB than EXP (3.89 ± 2.4 vs 2.36 ± 2.2, p = 0.007). Success rates were comparable between both groups (Table 2). CONCLUSION: Our study is unique in patients of African origin showing statistical significance in the requirement of less postoperative 5-FU injections during the first 3 months following surgery in the Ex-PRESS group vs the trabeculectomy group. The Ex-PRESS shunt was as effective as trabeculectomy in reducing IOP and use of glaucoma medications up to 1 year. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The possible benefit of this article is to help guiding ophthalmologists to select the type of glaucoma filtration surgery to undergo in an African American patient with glaucoma. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bustros YD, Fechtner R, Khouri AS. Outcomes of Ex-PRESS and Trabeculectomy in a Glaucoma Population of African Origin: One Year Results. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2017;11(2):42-47.

A Multicenter Experience from Lebanon in Childhood and Adolescent Acute Myeloid Leukemia: High rate of Early Death in Childhood Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease with marked heterogeneity. Despite major improvement in outcome, it remains a life-threatening malignancy. Demographic and clinical data on pediatric AML is lacking among the Lebanese population. PURPOSE: We aimed to identify clinical, molecular and outcome data in children with AML in Lebanon. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children with AML diagnosed in three Lebanese hospitals during the past 8 years was conducted. RESULTS: From May 2002 through March 2010, we identified 24 children with AML in Saint George Hospital University Medical Center, University Medical Center Rizk Hospital, and Abou-Jaoude Hospital. Males and females were equally represented; median age at diagnosis was 9 years (range 1-24) and median WBC at diagnosis was 31 × 10(9)/L (range: 2.1-376 × 10(9)/L). Twenty five percent of patients (6 out of 24) had acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Karyotype was normal in 33% of patients; t(8;21), inv (16), t(8;9), t(7;11), t(9;11), complex chromosomal abnormality, monosomy 7 and trisomy 8 were the most common cytogenetic abnormalities encountered. Patients were treated on different European and North American protocols. Twelve patients (50%) achieved morphologic CR after cycle 1, 6 of them (50%) had bone marrow relapse within 11 months from diagnosis. Nine patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplant, and 3 of them are alive at 5 years post-transplant. Early death rate was 16.6% of patients, mainly those with APL and a presenting WBC > 10 × 10(9)/L. Fifty per cent of APL patients had an early death due to DIC despite starting ATRA therapy. Overall, median survival for AML patients who died from disease progression was 25.8 months (range: 1-60 months). Overall disease-free survival was 30.4%. Patients < 10 years of age had a 50% survival rate compared to 0% in patients > 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our report highlights the needs in Lebanon for better supportive care of children with APL, including faster ATRA administration and, aggressive transfusions, easy access to stem cell transplant for high-risk AML patients and the need for a national homogenous treatment strategy for children with AML.