Real-World Outcomes of Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema in Türkiye: MARMASIA Study Group Report No. 1.

Objectives: This study aimed to report the demographic and clinical characteristics of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients treated with intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and provide an overview of outcomes during routine clinical practice in Türkiye. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, real-world study included 1,372 eyes (854 patients) treated with a pro re nata protocol by 21 ophthalmologists from 8 tertiary clinics on the Asian side of the Marmara region of Türkiye (MARMASIA Study Group). Five cohort groups were established by collecting the patients' baseline and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month follow-up data, where each subsequent cohort may include the previous. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, approximate ETDRS letters) and central macular thickness (CMT, µm), number of visits and IVI, and rates of anti-VEGF switch and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) combination were evaluated. Results: The 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month cohorts included 1372 (854), 1352 (838), 1185 (722), 972 (581), and 623 (361) eyes (patients), respectively. The mean baseline BCVA and CMT were 51.4±21.4 letters and 482.6±180.3 µm. The mean changes from baseline in BCVA were +7.6, +9.1, +8.0, +8.6, and +8.4 letters, and in CMT were -115.4, -140.0, -147.9, -167.3, and -215.4 µm at the 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month visits (p<0.001 for all). The median cumulative number of anti-VEGF IVI was 3.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0, respectively. The overall anti-VEGF switch and IDI combination rates were 18.5% (253/1372 eyes) and 35.0% (480/1372 eyes), respectively. Conclusion: This largest real-life study of DME from Türkiye demonstrated BCVA gains inferior to randomized controlled trials, mainly due to the lower number of IVI. However, with the lower baseline BCVA and higher IDI combination rates in our cohorts, these gains were relatively superior to other real-life study counterparts.

Evaluation of optical coherence tomography parameters before and after parenteral iron treatment of patients with iron deficiency anemia.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between iron deficiency anemia (IDA), which is a common and often chronic condition in young women, and the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings, which have become an indispensable part of ophthalmology practice. We aim to identify a new biomarker for anemia evaluation by demonstrating the morphological changes in the eye before and after iron replacement treatment through OCT findings. METHODS: 70 eyes of 35 patients diagnosed with IDA and planned to have parenteral iron replacement were included in the study. Patients were evaluated before treatment and between 4-6 weeks and 12-16 weeks after treatment. During visits, peripapillary and macular choroidal thicknesses and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were evaluated with OCT along with serum hemoglobin(Hb) values. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 36.80 ± 7.25. All 35 patients (100%) were female. The mean baseline Hb values of the patients increased statistically significantly both after 4-6 weeks and after 12-16 weeks (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between baseline and third visit in OCT findings in subfoveal, temporal, nasal, peripapillary temporal and peripapillary nasal choroidal thicknesses and total, inferior, nasal and temporal RNFL thicknes (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the baseline and the third visit in the central macular thickness and superior RNFL thickness. CONCLUSION: Significant increases in choroidal and RNFL thickness were detected after parenteral iron replacement in patients diagnosed with IDA. Our results demonstrate that the changes induced by IDA on the retina can be reversed with treatment.

Evaluation of the efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors in diabetic macular edema with retinal inner and outer layers disorganization.

AIMS: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of treatment between anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients with disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL). Epiretinal membrane, serous macular detachment, ellipsoid zone (EZ) disorder, external limiting membrane (ELM) disorder, and hyperreflective foci were also examined. METHODS: Patients treated for DME and also had DRIL were included in the study. The study design was retrospective and cross-sectional. The complete ophthalmologic records and imaging were scanned at the beginning, 3rd-month, 6th-month, and 12th-month follow-up, and the treatments administered were recorded. Anti-VEGF agents administered to the patients were examined in three groups: bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept. RESULT: A total of 141 eyes of 100 patients were included in our study. One hundred and fifteen eyes (81.6%) had a BCVA of 0, 5, or less at the beginning. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups regarding initial BCVA and CMT and the change in BCVA and CMT at the beginning and the 12th month (p > 0.05). There was a negative correlation between EZ and ELM disorders in patients and the change in BCVA at 12 months (r: 0.45 p < 0.001, r: 0.32 p < 0.001, respectively). The number of injections over five was positively correlated with the change in CMT but not with BCVA (r: - 2.35 p = 0.005 and r: 0.147 p = 0.082, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant difference was found between anti-VEGF agents when treating DME patients with DRIL. In addition, we have shown that anatomically better results were obtained in those who had five or more injections, although not in terms of BCVA.

Successful desensitization protocol for pyridostigmine in a 12 year old patient with myasthenia gravis.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis is a chronic, autoimmune disease with muscle weakness. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are used in the symptomatic treatment of the disease. Allergic reaction to pyridostigmine bromide is rare. In the literature, no allergic reaction to pyridostigmine bromide has been reported in the pediatric population. CASE: A 12-year-old female patient diagnosed with myasthenia gravis consulted our clinic with the complaint of urticaria due to pyridostigmine bromide. The oral challenge test performed with pyridostigmine bromide was positive. As the patient was required to be continue pyridostigmine bromide with no suitable alternatives, it was decided that the patient had to be desensitized to pyridostigmine. During and after the desensitization protocol, no reaction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this report, a successful desensitization protocol for pyridostigmine bromide in a child with myasthenia gravis is discussed.

Prognosis evaluation with optical coherence tomography in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is the fourth most common retinopathy that causes severe vision loss and is frequently seen in young and active patients. Our aim in this study is to evaluate whether a foresight about the prognosis of patients with CSCR can be obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with chronic CSCR at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Research and Training Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, were screened between January 2017 and September 2019, and 30 patients were included in the study. The anatomical and functional changes of the patients during the 6-month follow-up and the relationship between the OCT findings at baseline and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the sixth month were evaluated. RESULTS: All of the participants were treated with subthreshold micropulse laser therapy. BCVA increased significantly at first month and sixth month examinations compared to baseline, while the central macular thicknesses decreased significantly (p = 0.01, p = 0.00). Among the parameters examined in the baseline OCT, a positive correlation was found between the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (r = -0.520, p = 0.003) and BCVA at sixth month. In addition, subretinal fluid density and the number of intra-subretinal hyperreflective dots negatively affected BCVA (r = 0.371, p = 0.044 and r = 0.509, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Outer nuclear layer thickness, subretinal fluid density and intra-subretinal hyperreflective dots were the OCT biomarkers related to sixth month BCVA. The clinical use of these biomarkers will help evaluate the prognosis of the CSCR.

Experiences and attitudes of parents of children with cow's milk and other food-allergy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The attitude and behaviors of parents are important in the management of children with food allergy (FA). The aim of this study is to evaluate the experiences and attitudes of parents of children with allergy to cow's milk and other FA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The parents of children with FA were asked to complete an 18-item questionnaire to evaluate the FA history and experiences during diagnosis, treatment, and follow up. RESULTS: The data from 558 (91.2%) survey questionnaire that were filled completely were analyzed. The mean age of the parents was 33.4+4.9. It was found that most common food allergen was cow's milk (85.3%). The mean time to diagnosis from the onset of symptoms was 10.9±18.4 months. Around 229 parents (41.6%) admitted to at least four different physicians and 68 (12.3%) parents admitted to at least five different physicians before diagnosis. The median time to diagnosis from the onset of symptoms was five (1-108) months in the patients admitted to four or more physicians, but it was one (1-48) month in the patients that admitted to less physicians (p˂0.001). The most common symptoms were dermatitis and mucus-bloody stool, the least common ones were cardiovascular symptoms. Only 21.1% of the patients were able to use hypoallergenic formulas (HAF) in accordance with the recommendation of the physician. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis of FA is a major concern, and during this period the patients admit many physicians. A majority of the patients with CMPA experience difficulties while using HAFs, and only one-fifth of them is able to use formula regularly.

Food-induced anaphylaxis in early childhood and factors associated with its severity.

Background: Several factors that increase the risk of severe food-induced anaphylaxis have been identified. Objective: We aimed to determine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of food-induced anaphylaxis in early childhood and also any other factors associated with severe anaphylaxis. Methods: We carried out a medical chart review of anaphylaxis cases from 16 pediatric allergy and immunology centers in Turkey. Results: The data of 227 patients with 266 food-induced anaphylaxis episodes were included in the study. The median (interquartile range) age of the first anaphylaxis episode was 9 months (6-18 months); 160 of these patients were boys (70.5%). The anaphylaxis episodes were mild in 75 cases (28.2%), moderate in 154 cases (57.9%), and severe in 37 cases (13.9%). The most frequent food allergens involved were cow's milk (47.4%), nuts (16.7%), and hen's egg (15.8%). Epinephrine was administered in only 98 (36.8%) of these anaphylaxis episodes. A logistic regression analysis revealed two statistically significant factors that were independently associated with severe anaphylaxis: the presence of angioedema and hoarseness during the anaphylactic episode. Urticaria was observed less frequently in patients who developed hypotension. In addition, confusion and syncope were associated with 25.9- and 44.6-fold increases, respectively, in the risk of concomitant hypotension. Conclusion: Cow's milk, nuts, and hen's egg caused the majority of mild and moderate-to-severe anaphylaxis episodes. The presence of angioedema and hoarseness in any patient who presents with a history of food-induced anaphylaxis should alert clinicians that the reaction may be severe. In addition, the presence of confusion, syncope, or stridor probably indicates concomitant hypotension.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis due to Epstein-Barr virus infection in a neonate.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is an uncommon inflammatory subcorneal pustular dermatosis typically caused by exposure to a medication. Several viral infections have also been implicated in its development. We describe herein a rare case of AGEP associated with acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in a neonate.

Proven Food-Induced Acute Urticaria and Predictive Factors for Definitive Diagnosis in Childhood.

BACKGROUND: Urticaria can be the only sign of a food allergy or can be seen together with other signs and symptoms of a food allergy. OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of food-induced acute urticaria in childhood. METHODS: Patients suspected of food-induced acute urticaria were included in this prospective cross-sectional multicenter study. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-nine urticaria cases were included in this study. Seventeen patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria of the study were excluded. Of the 212 included cases, 179 (84.4%) were diagnosed with definitive food-induced acute urticaria. The most common foods causing acute urticaria were cow's milk, hen's eggs, and nuts in 56.4, 35.2, and 19% of cases, respectively. The positive predictive value of a history of milk-induced acute urticaria together with a milk-specific IgE >5 kU/L for cow's milk-induced acute urticaria was 92% (95% CI: 81-96%). A history of cow's milk-induced and/or hen's egg-induced acute urticaria was consistent with a definitive diagnosis of food-induced urticaria (Chen's kappa: 0.664 and 0.627 for milk and eggs, respectively). Urticaria activity scores were higher in patients with food-induced acute urticaria (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Cow's milk, hen's eggs, and nuts were the most common allergens in the etiology of childhood food-induced acute urticaria. Although the urticaria activity score provides guidance for diagnosis, an oral food challenge is often essential for the definitive diagnosis of a patient with a history of food-induced acute urticaria.

Prevalence estimates of voiding disorders in Turkish school-age children.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of voiding disorders and identify the associated risk factors for school-age children in East Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: We randomly selected six primary schools in Malatya in East Anatolia, and 907 students from 6 to 14 years old were involved. Data were obtained using the dysfunctional voiding and incontinence scoring system (DVISS) scale, and children who scored 8.5 or above on that scale were considered as having voiding disorders. RESULTS: Voiding disorders were detected in 175 (19.2%) of 907 children. One hundred and fifty-two (16.8%) had day-time urinary incontinence, and 131 (14.5%) had night-time incontinence. The findings showed a significant relationship between voiding disorder and daytime/night-time incontinence, and fecal incontinence. Voiding disorders decreased as the age increased. There was a significant relationship between voiding disorder and positive family history, and the quality of life of these children was significantly affected. CONCLUSION: Voiding disorder is a common disease among school-age children. By identifying and treating voiding disorders and related risk factors in children in the early period, these children can be protected from possible medical or social complications.