Clinical Course and Outcomes of Autoimmune Versus Non-Autoimmune Surgically Induced Scleral Necrosis: A Multicentric Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical course and outcomes of autoimmune vs. non-autoimmune surgically induced scleral necrosis (SISN). METHODS: Multicentric, retrospective, comparative cohort study. Eighty-two eyes of 70 patients with SISN were classified according to pathogenic mechanism into autoimmune vs. non-autoimmune. Main outcome measures included necrosis onset, type of surgery, associated systemic disease, visual acuity, and treatment were analysed in patients followed for ≥ 6 months. RESULTS: Forty-six (65.7%) patients were women, and the median age was 66 (range: 24-90) years. Most patients (82.9%) had unilateral disease. The median time between surgery and SISN onset was 58 (1-480) months. Thirty-one (37.8%) eyes were classified as autoimmune, and 51 (62.2%) as non-autoimmune SISN. Autoimmune SISN was associated with a shorter time between the surgical procedure and SISN onset than non-autoimmune cases (median of 26 vs. 60 months, p = 0.024). Also, autoimmune SISN was associated with cataract extraction (93.5% vs. 25.5%, p < 0.001), severe scleral inflammation (58.1% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.001), and higher incidence of ocular complications (67.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.002) than non-autoimmune cases. Remission was achieved with medical management alone in 44 (86.3%) eyes from the non-autoimmune and in 27 (87.1%) from the autoimmune group (p = 0.916). Surgical management was required in 11 (13.4%) eyes, including two requiring enucleations due to scleral perforation and phthisis bulbi. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with autoimmune SISN had a higher rate of cataract surgery, severe scleral inflammation, and ocular complications. Early SISN diagnosis and appropriate management, based on clinical features and pathogenic mechanisms, are critical to avoid sight-threatening complications.

The clinical and pathogenic spectrum of surgically-induced scleral necrosis: A review.

The onset of scleral necrosis after ocular surgery may have catastrophic ocular and systemic consequences. The two most frequent surgeries causing surgically-induced scleral necrosis (SISN) are pterygium excision and cataract extraction. Several pathogenic mechanisms are involved in surgically induced scleral necrosis. All of them are poorly understood. Ocular trauma increasing lytic action of collagenases with subsequent collagen degradation, vascular disruption leading to local ischemia, and immune complex deposition activating the complement system represents some of the events that lead to scleral necrosis. The complex cascade of events involving different pathogenic mechanisms and the patient's abnormal immune response frequently leads to delayed wound healing that predisposes the development of scleral necrosis. The management of SISN ranges from short-term systemic anti-inflammatory drugs to aggressive immunosuppressive therapy and surgical repair. Therefore, before performing any ocular surgery involving the sclera, a thorough ophthalmic and systemic evaluation must be done to identify high-risk patients that may develop SISN.

Birdshot retinochoroidopathy review.

Birdshot retinochoroidopathy (BSRC) is a distinct type of posterior uveitis originally described in the 1940s. Its characteristics include minimal anterior segment inflammation and diffuse posterior choroidopathy with vitritis and retinal vasculitis. The precise etiology of this disease is yet to be elucidated. However, various treatment modalities have been employed with the ultimate goal of durable remission of this vision threatening intraocular disease. The purpose of this review is not only to emphasize the importance of recognizing BSRC, but also to discuss the new discoveries, immune mediators, current and new therapies, and techniques applied to monitor and accomplish disease remission.

Birdshot retinochoroidopathy review / Revisão sobre retinocoroidopatia do tipo "birdshot"

Birdshot retinochoroidopathy (BSRC) is a distinct type of posterior uveitis originally described in the 1940s. Its characteristics include minimal anterior segment inflammation and diffuse posterior choroidopathy with vitritis and retinal vasculitis. The precise etiology of this disease is yet to be elucidated. However, various treatment modalities have been employed with the ultimate goal of durable remission of this vision threatening intraocular disease. The purpose of this review is not only to emphasize the importance of recognizing BSRC, but also to discuss the new discoveries, immune mediators, current and new therapies, and techniques applied to monitor and accomplish disease remission.

Retinocoroidopatia do tipo "birdshot" é um tipo de uveíte posterior originalmente descrita na década de 1940. Achados característicos incluem inflamação mínima do segmento anterior, retinocoroidopatia difusa associada à vitreíte e vasculite retiniana. A etiologia da doença ainda não foi completamente definida, entretanto várias modalidades de tratamento têm sido utilizadas com o objetivo de atingir a remissão. O objetivo desta revisão é enfatizar não só a importância do reconhecimento da doença como também discutir novas descobertas relacionadas a mediadores imunes, formas de tratamentos e como monitorar a doença.

Optic neuritis complicating herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an immunocompetent patient / Zoster optic neuritis in immunocompentent

A 58-year-old woman presented with rash over the left side of the face and intense acute uveitis. Following careful review of the symptoms and dilated fundus examination unilateral optic neuritis was discovered. The rash was typical of varicella zoster dermatitis. Patients presenting with herpes zoster ophthalmicus should always undergo dilated fundus examination, as there is a potential risk of unexpected posterior segment inflammation. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can avoid visual sequelae.

Paciente de 58 anos de idade apresentando erupção cutânea no lado esquerdo da face e intensa uveíte unilateral. Após cuidadosa revisão dos sintomas e exame de fundo do olho foi detectada neurite óptica. O rash era típico de dermatite por varicella zoster. Pacientes apresentando quadro de herpes zoster oftálmico devem ser submetidos ao exame de fundo do olho devido ao risco de inesperada inflamação do segmento posterior. Diagnóstico precoce e tratamento imediato podem evitar danos visuais.

Valor diagnóstico y terapéutico de la biopsia conjuntival en las enfermedades inflamatorias oculares externas / The conjunctival biopsy is an important role in the inflammatory processes the external structures of the eye

La conjuntiva desempeña un papel muy importante en los procesos inflamatorios de las estructuras oculares externas, incluyendo a la misma conjuntiva, la córnea y la esclera. La quetoconjuntivitis cicatrizante crónica representa un grupo de enfermedades con manifestaciones clínicas similares, pero con un diagnóstico diferencial muy extenso y en el cual la confirmación diagnóstica por medio de los hallazgos inmunohistopatológicos de la conjuntiva es de crucial importancia para instituir un tratamiento adecuado. Lo mismo es cierto para la queratitis ulcerativa periférica y la excleritis necrotizante, en las cuales la historia clínica detalla, en conjunto con la biopsia conjuntival, representan las dos armas diagnósticas fundamentales. Además, esta última es el punto crítico en la toma de decisiones respecto a si instituir o no quimioterapia inmunosupresiva en estos casos. De esta manera, el estudio histopatológico e inmunopatológico de la conjuntiva representa una arma fundamental en el diagnóstico, en el tratamiento, así como en el entendimiento de la patogénesis de las enfermedades inflamatorias oculares externas de origen inmunológico.