Superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis following coil embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysm: Report of two cases.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to present two patients with superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis following coil embolization of posterior communicating artery aneurysm, that have not been reported after this particular procedure yet. METHODS: We present two patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to posterior communicating artery aneurysms, who were treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. Shortly after the procedure, both cases demonstrated painful proptosis, ophthalmoplegia, increased intraocular pressure, intraretinal hemorrhage and macular edema on the ipsilateral side, with congestion of intraorbital tissues and thickened and dilated superior ophthalmic vein in neuroimaging investigation. The occlusion was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. RESULTS: Patients were treated with anticoagulant agents and systemic corticosteroids immediately and then received medical treatment by an ophthalmologist for ocular complications of superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Isolated superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis (SOVT) is rare, but may be associated with sight-threatening complications. After intracranial interventions on cerebral vessels, clinical features of SOVT including choroidal effusion syndrome should be investigated, and the patients should receive prompt and proper care including ophthalmic medications and systemic anticoagulants to restrict the ocular and systemic complications.

Combination of interleukin-10 gene promoter polymorphisms with HLA-DRB1*15 allele is associated with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is common in some ethnic groups. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine that may be an important regulator in MS disease pathogenesis. IL-10 promoter includes several single nucleotide polymorphisms and the level of IL-10 expression is related to these polymorphisms. Furthermore, loci within the histocompatibility regions are responsible for susceptibility to MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms and HLA-DRB1*15 allele frequencies with MS susceptibility in an Iranian population. METHODS: In this study 336 MS patients and 454 healthy controls were included. Genomic DNA was purified from peripheral blood samples by a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed by the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: IL-10 -1082 G/G and IL-10 -819 C/C genotypes were more frequent in MS patients than healthy individuals. DRB1*15 allele showed a higher frequency among MS patients compared to controls. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The IL-10 and HLA-DRB1*15 polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to MS in Iranian patients. Our results suggest that gene-gene interaction of IL-10 polymorphisms and HLA-DRB1*15 alleles may be important factors in the development of MS.