Cutting-edge issues in sympathetic ophthalmia approach and six case reports: a T cell-mediated autoimmune response.

Sympathetic ophthalmia is a rare and potentially devastating bilateral diffuse granulomatous panuveitis. It is caused by surgical or non-surgical eye injuries and is an uncommon and serious complication of trauma. It is diagnosed clinically and supported by imaging examinations such as ocular ultrasonography and optical coherence tomography. Its treatment consists of immunosuppressive therapy with steroids and sometimes steroid-sparing drugs, such as cyclosporine, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil. Fast and effective management with systemic immunosuppressive agents allows for disease control and achievement of good visual acuity in the sympathizing eye. By contrast, enucleation should be considered only in situations where the injured eye has no light perception or in the presence of severe trauma. In addition to a bibliographic review of this topic, we report six cases involving different immunosuppressive and surgical treatment modalities.

Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI) and bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT): A case series from a center in Brazil.

Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris and bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) are similar clinical entities. The former causes acute-onset depigmentation of the iris stroma without transillumination, whereas the latter causes depigmentation of the iris pigment epithelium with transillumination. The etiopathogenesis of these conditions is not yet fully understood, but the proposed causes include the use of systemic antibiotics (especially moxifloxacin) and viral triggers. We present a case series of five female patients with a mean age of 41 (32-45) years, all of whom suffered acute onset of bilateral pain and redness of the eyes after moxifloxacin use (oral or topical). It is important for ophthalmologists to be aware of the two forms of iris depigmentation since this case series suggests that SARS-CoV-2 or its empirical treatment with moxifloxacin may trigger iris depigmentation. If this is the case, clinicians will likely see increased incidences of bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris and bilateral acute iris transillumination during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monkeypox Infection Causing Conjunctival Vesicles and Anterior Uveitis.

Human monkeypox is a zoonosis caused by an orthopoxvirus and the clinical presentation resembles that of smallpox and chickenpox. The disease may start with a prodrome that includes lymphadenopathy, headache, fatigue, and fever, followed by a vesiculo-pustular rash. Ocular manifestations such as conjunctivitis and edema are present in approximately 20% of affected people, with a greater incidence among unvaccinated patients. Corneal involvement has also been reported and can result in corneal scarring and severe forms of keratitis. The natural course of the disease is most often benign and self-limiting, however, in some individuals, especially immunocompromised patients, there is a risk of complications such as bronchopneumonia, encephalitis, and vision loss. Herein, we present a case of a patient with monkeypox which caused conjunctival vesicles and anterior uveitis.

Optical coherence tomography findings in fungal uveitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to describe the vitreal, retinal, and choroidal features of eyes affected by endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) and evaluate the effects of systemic antifungal drug treatment and pars plana vitrectomy by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: Medical records and SD-OCT images of eyes diagnosed with EE at a single uveitis tertiary referral center in Brazil were acquired at the time of diagnosis, after 7 days of high-dose antifungal drug treatment, and at follow-up assessments performed 30 days after resolution. RESULTS: Thirteen eyes were enrolled in the study. All patients showed hyperreflective round-shaped lesions on SD-OCT and pre-retinal aggregates. Five eyes responded to antifungal systemic oral drugs despite showing vitreous opacity. The response to treatment was observable on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. CONCLUSION: Fungal endophthalmitis showed typical features on SD-OCT, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment despite the absence of vitreous culture or biopsy. This study suggests that OCT images can be used to support diagnosis by physicians who do not have access to vitreoretinal surgery.

Ophthalmological Findings in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Examined at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases - INI/Fiocruz.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical characteristics, severity, and ophthalmological changes in SARS-CoV-2 patients through ophthalmological examinations performed at the reference center of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed the examination results of SARS-CoV-2 patients from July 2020 to November 2020. In total, 150 patients were included and allocated into three groups of 50 patients depending on the disease severity. Group 1 patients were in the intensive care unit (ICU), group 2 patients were in the semi-ICU, and group 3 patients were outpatients. RESULTS: Ten (6.7%) patients exhibited ophthalmological changes; five (10%), four (8%), and one (2%) patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Ophthalmological findings included candle flame hemorrhage and cotton wool exudates. We analyzed the general characteristics of the 10 patients with ophthalmological changes. Nine were hospitalized and one was seen on an outpatient basis. CONCLUSION: We observed ophthalmic changes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, despite the absence of any clinical or laboratory risk factors indicative of such changes.

Bilateral Ampiginous Choroiditis following Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

INTRODUCTION: Ampiginous Choroiditis is a rare posterior uveitis that combines clinical features of Acute Multifocal Posterior Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy and Serpiginous Chorioretinitis. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood and further studies are necessary to understand which mechanisms start the immunologic reaction. CASE REPORT: The purpose of this article is to report a well-documented case of Ampiginous Choroiditis following in seven days a RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that the infection might have contributed as a trigger. CONCLUSION: Timely diagnosis and correct treatment are paramount to improve the visual outcomes, and the patient had successful response to systemic steroids.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: systematic review and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are widely used for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSCR), but their effectiveness remains unclear. This research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this drugs for cCSCR. METHODS: This is a review of randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing MRAs to placebo in adults with cCSCR, using the effects of MRAs on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and adverse events as primary outcomes and the effects of MRAs on anatomical parameters as secondary outcomes: central subfield thickness (CST), subretinal fluid height (SFH) and central choroidal thickness (CCT). Our all-language online search included Medline (via PubMed), Central, Embase, Lilacs, Ibecs, and RCT registers platforms, as late as May 2021. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (version 2) to assess the methodological quality of each study and synthesized the results in meta-analyses using a random-effects model. RESULTS: The search identified 302 records, five of which were eligible, totaling 225 cCSCR patients (aged 45-62 years; M/F ratio 3.1:1) treated for 1 to 12 months with spironolactone (50 mg/day) or eplerenone (50 mg/day) vs. placebo. Moderate-certainty evidence suggests MRAs result in little to no improvement in BCVA compared to placebo (SMD 0.22; 95% CI - 0.04 to 0.48; studies = 5; comparisons = 6; participants = 218; I2 = 0%). Very low-certainty evidence suggests that, when compared to placebo, MRAs have a very uncertain impact on adverse effects (no meta-analysis was performed), and CST (MD 18.1; 95% CI - 113.04 to 76.84; participants = 145; studies = 2; I2 = 68%). MRAs also result in little to no difference in SFH (SMD - 0.35; 95% CI - 0.95 to 0.26; studies = 5; comparisons = 6; participants = 221; I2 = 76%; moderate certainty) and CCT (MD - 21.23; 95% CI - 64.69 to 22.24; participants = 206; studies = 4; comparisons = 5; I2 = 85%; low certainty). CONCLUSION: MRAs have little to no effect on BCVA. Evidence for adverse events and CST is very uncertain. MRAs also have little to no effect on SFH and CCT. These findings should be considered when prescribing MRAs for cCSCR. This research was previous registration in the PROSPERO platform (CRD42020182601).

Causes and characteristics of uveitis cases at a reference university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Causas e características das uveítes em hospital universitário de referência no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

ABSTRACT Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of uveitis cases treated at University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho and to identify the presentation pattern of intraocular inflammation on the basis of clinical, anatomical, etiological, and demographic criteria. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the medical records of 408 patients with active disease who attended the ophthalmology service between March and October 2018. Age, sex, visual acuity at the time of diagnosis, anatomical and etiological diagnoses, the clinical aspect, and the main symptoms reported during anamnesis were described. Results: Of the 408 patients in the study, 52% were male and 48% were female. The patients' mean age was 42 years, and most (84%) were between 19 and 64 years old. Anterior uveitis was observed in 37.75% of the patients; posterior uveitis, in 49.75%; panuveitis, in 4.66%; and intermediate uveitis, in 3.43%. Only 18 patients (4.41%) presented with scleritis. Of the 390 patients with anatomical classifications, 76% had known etiologies, with the most prevalent diagnoses being toxoplasmosis (35.4%), followed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (6.4%), ankylosing spondylitis (5.9%), and syphilis (4.9%). Infectious uveitis corresponded to 49.7% of the patients, while 26.6% of the cases were of noninfectious origin. Anterior uveitis had the highest number of cases classified as idiopathic (49.4%). In the cases of posterior uveitis, the etiology was established 94% of the time. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (71.8%) and blurring vision (56.8%). Conclusions: The present study confirmed the historical importance of infectious uveitis in our population, especially ocular toxoplasmosis. Uveitis appears to have no predilection for sex but mainly affects young people of working age, thus generating social and economic consequences. Despite the evolution of diagnostic methods, idiopathic uveitis remains one of the major etiologies. Epidemiological studies point to different presentation patterns of uveitis in different populations, but these may reflect the distinct characteristics of each institution.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico das uveítes atendidas no Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho - UFRJ. Identificando o padrão de apresentação da inflamação intraocular a partir de critérios clínicos, anatômicos, etiológicos e demográficos. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, com base em prontuários de 408 pacientes com doença ativa, atendidos no serviço de oftalmologia no período de março a outubro de 2018. Foram descritos a idade, sexo, acuidade visual no momento do diagnóstico, diagnóstico anatômico e etiológico, aspecto clínico, além dos principais sintomas relatados durante a anamnese. Resultados: Dos 408 pacientes do estudo, 52% eram do sexo masculino e 48% do feminino. A idade média dos pacientes foi de 42 anos, a maioria (84%) entre 19 e 64 anos. Uveíte anterior foi observada em 37,75% dos pacientes, uveíte posterior em 49,75%, panuveíte em 4,66% e uveíte intermediária em 3,43%; apenas 18 pacientes (4,41%) apresentaram diagnóstico de esclerite. Dos 390 pacientes com classificação anatômica, a etiologia foi determinada em 76% deles, com os diagnósticos mais prevalentes sendo Toxoplasmose (35,4%), artrite idiopática juvenil (6,4%), espondilite anquilosante (5,9%) e sífilis (4,9%). ) A uveíte infecciosa correspondeu a 49,7% desses pacientes, enquanto 26,6% eram de origem não infecciosa. A uveíte anterior teve o maior número de casos classificados como idiopáticos (49,4%), enquanto a uveíte posterior teve a etiologia estabelecida em 94% das vezes. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram dor ocular (71,8%) e visão embaçada (56,8%). Conclusões: O presente estudo confirmou a importância histórica da uveíte infecciosa em nossa população, principalmente a toxoplasmose ocular. As uveítes parecem não ter predileção por sexo, mas afetam principalmente jovens em idade ativa, gerando consequências sociais e econômicas. Apesar da evolução nos métodos diagnósticos, a uveíte idiopática continua sendo uma das principais causas. Estudos epidemiológicos apontam para diferentes padrões de uveíte nas populações, estes podem refletir características particulares de cada instituição.

Causes and characteristics of uveitis cases at a reference university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of uveitis cases treated at University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho and to identify the presentation pattern of intraocular inflammation on the basis of clinical, anatomical, etiological, and demographic criteria. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using data from the medical records of 408 patients with active disease who attended the ophthalmology service between March and October 2018. Age, sex, visual acuity at the time of diagnosis, anatomical and etiological diagnoses, the clinical aspect, and the main symptoms reported during anamnesis were described. RESULTS: Of the 408 patients in the study, 52% were male and 48% were female. The patients' mean age was 42 years, and most (84%) were between 19 and 64 years old. Anterior uveitis was observed in 37.75% of the patients; posterior uveitis, in 49.75%; panuveitis, in 4.66%; and intermediate uveitis, in 3.43%. Only 18 patients (4.41%) presented with scleritis. Of the 390 patients with anatomical classifications, 76% had known etiologies, with the most prevalent diagnoses being toxoplasmosis (35.4%), followed by juvenile idiopathic arthritis (6.4%), ankylosing spondylitis (5.9%), and syphilis (4.9%). Infectious uveitis corresponded to 49.7% of the patients, while 26.6% of the cases were of noninfectious origin. Anterior uveitis had the highest number of cases classified as idiopathic (49.4%). In the cases of posterior uveitis, the etiology was established 94% of the time. The most frequent symptoms were ocular pain (71.8%) and blurring vision (56.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the historical importance of infectious uveitis in our population, especially ocular toxoplasmosis. Uveitis appears to have no predilection for sex but mainly affects young people of working age, thus generating social and economic consequences. Despite the evolution of diagnostic methods, idiopathic uveitis remains one of the major etiologies. Epidemiological studies point to different presentation patterns of uveitis in different populations, but these may reflect the distinct characteristics of each institution.