Fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and histopathologic findings in a VEGF(165) animal model of retinal angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: To establish an animal model of retinal neovascularization using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) and analyze the model using optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and histopathologic evaluation. METHODS: Twelve rabbits were divided into groups as follows: group 1 (n = 3), sham intravitreous injections of 0.1 ml of balanced saline; group 2 (n = 6), one 10-µg intravitreal injection of VEGF165 on day 0; and group 3 (n = 3), two 10-µg intravitreal injections of VEGF165, one on day 0 and one on day 7. Follow-up evaluations (days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28) included obtaining fundus color photographs and FA, OCT, and histopathologic examinations. Eyes were enucleated and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). RESULTS: One injection of VEGF (group 2) was associated with dilatation and tortuosity of the retinal blood vessels that developed within 72 h. Retinal neovascularization was present by day 7 and regressed by day 14. However, even on day 28, the capillaries were still tortuous. Two VEGF injections (group 3) caused increased leakage and neovascularization up to day 14; severe capillary nonperfusion was seen during week 4. At the end of the follow-up period, OCT and histopathologic examination of group 3 showed peripapillary tractional retinal detachments. By day 7, the differences between the retinal thickness seen on OCT in groups 2 and 3 and the group 1 control group were significant (p < 0.001). The histologic findings showed increased vessel size in groups 2 and 3 by days 14 and 28 compared with the controls. CONCLUSIONS: FA, OCT, and histopathologic findings showed that this retinal neovascularization model is efficient, sustainable, and reliable. One injection of VEGF165 created neovascularization that peaked after 1 week; two injections created more intense neovascularization that evolved to retinal detachments after 4 weeks.

Prevalence of glaucoma in a South brazilian population: Projeto Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of glaucoma in a South Brazilian population. METHODS: Subjects older than 40 years underwent a screening examination that included a medical interview, slit lamp examination, tonometry, and fundoscopy. Those with suspected glaucoma (based on optic disc appearance and/or intraocular pressure) underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation during the definitive examination. Glaucoma was diagnosed based on the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiologic Ophthalmology classification. RESULTS: A total of 1636 subjects were examined (76.5% participation rate); 71% of the study population self-reported their race as white and 24% as nonwhite (most black and mixed-black/white). Glaucoma was found in 56 subjects (crude prevalence of all glaucoma: 3.4%; 95% CI, 2.5-4.3), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) was found in 40 (2.4%; 95% CI, 1.7-3.2), and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in 12 (0.7%; 95% CI, 0.3-1.1). Six (12%) subjects with primary glaucoma had a previous diagnosis of the disease. Nonwhite persons had a higher prevalence rate of POAG than did white participants, although this difference was not significant (3.8% vs. 2.1%, respectively, P = 0.11). Unilateral blindness due to primary glaucoma was observed in seven subjects (five POAG/2 PACG), and nonwhites had a higher rate of unilateral blindness than did whites (five versus two cases, respectively, P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to incidence in Hispanic and European populations, PACG was more common among South Brazilians, whereas the POAG rates were similar. The rate of undiagnosed glaucoma was almost 90%. The higher POAG prevalence in the population self-reported as nonwhite may affect the estimation of glaucoma in Brazil, as more than 40% of the population self-report their race as nonwhite.

Mnejo da vitreoretinopatia exsudativa familial / Familial exudative Vitreoretinopathy management

A vitreoretinopatia exsudativa familial (VREF) foi descrita por Criswick e Schepens em 1969,Ela tem característica autossômica dominante com penetrância incompleta, afeta ambos os olhos, sendo seu envolvimento assimétrico. Os achados fundoscópicos incluem traçäo papilar e ectopia macular temporal, bem como isquemia periférica, neovascularizaçäo e descolamento da retina. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar 13 caos de pacientes portadores de VREF tratados com criterapia e/ao fotooagulaçäo com laser de argônio e/ou vitrectomia pars plana, bem como discutir estas condutas terapêuticas. A crioterapia somente mostrou-se inadequada no tratamento da VREF devido ao apareciemnto de complicaçöes. Os pacientes tratados com fotocoagulaçäo a laser apresentaram bons resultados, quando o tratamento foi instituído precocemente e os pacientes submetidos à vitrectomia apresentaram resultados variáveis, dependendo do estágio em que se encontrava a doença

Neuroretinopatia óptica hereditária de Leber: relato de quatro casos / Leber's hereditary optic neuroretinopathy: a four-case report

Os autores apresentam 4 casos de Neuroretinopatia Optica de Leber, doença de origem hereditária que atinge principalmente o nervo óptico em sua porçäo intraocular, bem como os vasos retinianos e retina. A diminuiçäo da acuidade visual é igualmente de início súbito, devendo-se principalmente à atrofia do nervo óptico. O exame de campo visual mostra escotomas centrocecais relativos que rapidamente evoluem para escotomas absolutos. O eletroretinograma e o potencial visual evocado säo os principais exames para que se possa firmar o diagnóstico, principalmente nos casos iniciais onde näo existem alteraçöes fundoscópicas desta doença. Os autores ainda discutem seus achados e apresentam uma revisäo da genética, etiologia, clínica e tratamento