Vancomycin-associated hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis masquerading as central retinal vein occlusion / Vasculite hemorrágica oclusiva da retina associada à vancomicina (HORV) mascarada como oclusão da veia central da retina

ABSTRACT A 69-year-old female was referred with sudden unilateral painless decreased vision that began 2 days after uncomplicated cataract surgery in the left eye. Visual acuity was hand motion and biomicroscopy showed a mild anterior chamber reaction, no hypopyon, and an intraocular lens that had been placed within the capsular bag. A dilated fundus examination revealed optic disk edema, widespread deep and superficial intraretinal hemorrhages, retinal ischemia, and macular edema. A cardiological evaluation was normal and thrombophilia tests were negative. After surgery, prophylactic vancomycin (1mg/0.1ml) had been injected intracamerally. The patient was diagnosed with hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis likely secondary to vancomycin hypersensitivity. Recognition of this entity is important to ensure early treatment and the use of intracameral vancomycin in the fellow eye should be avoided after cataract surgery.

RESUMO Esse caso se refere a uma paciente de 69 anos, sexo feminino, com relato de baixa acuidade visual súbita e indolor no olho esquerdo, de início 2 dias após cirurgia de catarata sem complicações. A acuidade visual era de movimento de mãos e a biomicroscopia mostrou reação de câmara anterior moderada, sem hipópio, e lente intraocular posicionada dentro do saco capsular. A fundoscopia evidenciou edema de disco óptico, hemorragias difusas intrarretinianas superficiais e profundas, isquemia retiniana e edema macular. A avaliação cardiológica foi normal e os testes para trombofilia foram negativos. Ao final da cirurgia foi injetado antibioticoprofilaxia com vancomicina (1mg/0,1ml) na câmara anterior. A paciente foi diagnosticada com vasculite hemorrágica oclusiva da retina secundária à hipersensibilidade a vancomicina. O reconhecimento dessa entidade é importante para o tratamento precoce e para evitar o uso de vancomicina intracameral em caso de cirurgia de catarata no olho contralateral.

Vancomycin-associated hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis masquerading as central retinal vein occlusion.

A 69-year-old female was referred with sudden unilateral painless decreased vision that began 2 days after uncomplicated cataract surgery in the left eye. Visual acuity was hand motion and biomicroscopy showed a mild anterior chamber reaction, no hypopyon, and an intraocular lens that had been placed within the capsular bag. A dilated fundus examination revealed optic disk edema, widespread deep and superficial intraretinal hemorrhages, retinal ischemia, and macular edema. A cardiological evaluation was normal and thrombophilia tests were negative. After surgery, prophylactic vancomycin (1mg/0.1ml) had been injected intracamerally. The patient was diagnosed with hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis likely secondary to vancomycin hypersensitivity. Recognition of this entity is important to ensure early treatment and the use of intracameral vancomycin in the fellow eye should be avoided after cataract surgery.

Complement System as a Target for Therapies to Control Liver Regeneration/Damage in Acute Liver Failure Induced by Viral Hepatitis.

The complement system plays an important role in innate immunity inducing liver diseases as well as signaling immune cell activation in local inflammation regulating immunomodulatory effects such as liver damage and/or liver regeneration. Our aim is to evaluate the role of complement components in acute liver failure (ALF) caused by viral hepatitis, involving virus-induced ALF in human subjects using peripheral blood, samples of liver tissues, and ex vivo assays. Our findings displayed low levels of C3a in plasma samples with high frequency of C3a, C5a, and C5b/9 deposition in liver parenchyma. Meanwhile, laboratory assays using HepG2 (hepatocyte cell line) showed susceptibility to plasma samples from ALF patients impairing in vitro cell proliferation and an increase in apoptotic events submitting plasma samples to heat inactivation. In summary, our data suggest that the complement system may be involved in liver dysfunction in viral-induced acute liver failure cases using ex vivo assays. In extension to our findings, we provide insights into future studies using animal models for viral-induced ALF, as well as other associated soluble components, which need further investigation.

Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in Eyes with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents.

PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) and the effect of treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents on the SFChT in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) subtypes. METHODS: We enrolled 128 eyes of 107 patients with neovascular AMD (60 women; 47 men; mean age, 73.6 ± 8.9 years), and prospectively evaluated the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SFChT at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment with anti-VEGF agents. Patients were assigned to the typical AMD, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) subgroups. RESULTS: In total, 85 (66.4%), 31 (24.2%), and 12 (9.4%) eyes were assigned to the typical AMD, PCV, and RAP subgroups, respectively. The baseline mean BCVA was 0.75 ± 0.26, 0.72 ± 0.21, and 0.77 ± 0.24 logMAR in the typical AMD, PCV, and RAP subgroups, respectively (p = 0.774). The mean baseline SFChT was 203.20 ± 35.80, 271.80 ± 24.50, and 182.93 ± 31.31 µm, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean SFChT significantly decreased from baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The RAP subtype presented a significantly higher decrease in SFChT compared to the other subtypes (p = 0.01). The percentage reduction in SFChT was not significantly correlated with the number of injections (r = -0.02; p = 0.823). No association was observed between baseline SFChT and final visual acuity at 12 months (r = 0.0; p = 0.586). CONCLUSIONS: SFChT was greatest in eyes with PCV and least in eyes with RAP. The reduction in SFChT after treatment was greater in the RAP cases. The decrease in SFChT after 12 months of anti-VEGF treatment was not associated with the number of injections and there was no correlation between the baseline SFChT and visual acuity in all AMD subtypes.

Quantitative analysis of external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone defects in patients with macular holes.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between the length of external limiting membrane (ELM), ellipsoid zone (EZ) and interdigitation zone (IZ) defects and visual prognosis in patients undergoing macular hole (MH) surgery, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: This is a retrospective, consecutive, observational case series study. Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients with primary MH were evaluated. A quantitative analysis of ELM, EZ and IZ defects was performed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively using SD-OCT. The correlation between pre- and postoperative ELM, EZ and IZ defects and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was investigated. RESULTS: The lengths of ELM, EZ and IZ defects correlated significantly with BCVA in each study period (P < 0.001). Preoperative measures of these band defects were also associated with visual outcomes 3 and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05). Considering all preoperative parameters, the length of the ELM defect was the factor most strongly correlated with BCVA at 6 months (ß = 0.643, P < 0.012). The integrity of the ELM was the only factor significantly associated with BCVA at 6 months (ß = 0.427; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative length of the ELM defect is the strongest predictor of visual acuity after MH surgery. Postoperative integrity of the ELM is significantly associated with visual restoration after surgical treatment of MH.

Influence of Vitreomacular Adhesion on Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of vitreomacular adhesion (VMA) on the outcome of antiangiogenic treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Ninety-nine eyes of 83 patients were used in our cohort study. We prospectively evaluated best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in patients with neovascular AMD at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. All patients were stratified by spectral domain optical coherence tomography into 2 groups (i.e., VMA[+] and VMA[-]) according to the presence or absence of VMA, and the response to treatment was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-four eyes (54.5%) were included in the VMA(-) group and 45 eyes (45.5%) comprised the VMA(+) group. In paired comparisons of mean BCVA between baseline and each follow-up visit (1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months), the VMA(-) group showed statistically significant improvement at 1, 2, and 3 months compared to baseline, and BCVA significantly improved only at 3 months in the VMA(+) group. For both groups, paired comparisons of CRT showed a statistically significant decrease when data obtained at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months were compared to baseline values (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior VMA is associated with a worse short-term outcome in patients with neovascular AMD treated with anti-VEGF agents.

Characteristics of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Brazilian Patients.

PURPOSE: To report features of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Brazilian patients. PROCEDURES: Data were prospectively collected from patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD. Eyes were classified as having typical neovascular AMD, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), or retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). RESULTS: In total, 265 eyes of 207 patients of predominantly Caucasian ancestry were included; 166 (62.6%) eyes had typical neovascular AMD, 65 (24.5%) eyes had PCV, and 34 (12.8%) eyes had RAP. RAP demonstrated a higher percentage of bilateral cases (p = 0.015). The mean foveal subfield thickness was significantly lower in eyes with PCV (p < 0.001). Cases with typical neovascular AMD had a higher percentage of predominantly classic and minimally classic lesions on fluorescein angiography (FA; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazilian patients, PCV and RAP represented 24.5 and 12.8% of neovascular AMD cases. Neovascular AMD subtypes differ in relation to clinical features, mean foveal subfield thickness and FA presentation.

Choroidal neovascularization induced by immunogenic alteration of the retinal pigment epithelium in dengue Fever.

PURPOSE: To report the first case of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to dengue fever. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old female was referred to our department with blurred vision and metamorphopsia in her left eye. Two weeks earlier, she had presented all of the classic symptoms of dengue fever including a positive serology. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/150 in the left eye. She underwent a fundus examination, fluorescein angiography (FA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: All findings were consistent with CNV secondary to dengue fever. FA revealed a classic CNV associated with focal retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) destruction and detachment. Three consecutive monthly injections of intravitreal ranibizumab resulted in functional and anatomical improvement for as long as 6 months with a BCVA of 20/25. However, CNV recurred 2 years later, again with an improvement after ranibizumab therapy, but with persistence of a fibrovascular RPE detachment, highlighting the pathomechanism of a classic CNV formation. CONCLUSIONS: Maculopathy in dengue fever may be followed by CNV as a result of the immunologic alteration of the RPE. Physicians should be aware of this manifestation to be able to initiate adequate treatment with excellent functional and anatomical results.

CFH Y402H polymorphism and response to intravitreal Ranibizumab in brazilian patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration / Associação do polimorfismo Y402H do gene CFH com a resposta terapêutica ao Ranibizumabe em pacientes portadores de degeneração macular relacionada à idade neovascular

Objective: To investigate the association between CFH gene polymorphism and response to ranibizumab in Brazilian patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: 95 patients were genotyped for the CFH rs1061170 (Y402H) single nucleotide polymorphism. Patients with neovascular AMD initially received intravitreal ranibizumab injections for three months and were retreated as needed. Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. Results: For patients with the TT and TC genotypes, paired comparisons of VA showed a statistically significant improvement when the data obtained at all visits were compared with baseline. Patients homozygous for the risk genotype (CC) did not show a statistically significant improvement when VA obtained at visits 1, 3, 6 and 12 were compared with baseline. For all genotypes, paired comparisons of CRT showed a statistically significant improvement when the data obtained at visits 1, 3, 6 and 12 were compared with baseline. Conclusion: Patients with the CC genotype showed poorer long-term functional response to intravitreal ranibizumab. .

Objetivo: investigar a associação entre polimorfismo do gene CFH e a resposta terapêutica ao ranibizumabe na degeneração macular relacionada à idade (DMRI) neovascular. Métodos: noventa e cinco pacientes foram submetidos à genotipagem para identificação do polimorfismo rs1061170 (Y402H) do gene CFH. Pacientes portadores de DMRI neovascular receberam inicialmente três injeções intravítreas de ranibizumabe com intervalo mensal entre elas. A partir de então, foram retratados de acordo com a necessidade. Acuidade visual (AV) e espessura macular central (EMC) foram medidas antes e 1, 3, 6 e 12 meses após o início do tratamento. Resultados: para pacientes portadores dos genótipos TT e TC, a análise pareada da AV mostrou melhora estatisticamente significativa quando os dados obtidos em todas as visitas foram comparados com aqueles obtidos antes do início do tratamento. Para pacientes homozigotos para o alelo de risco (CC), não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quando a AV obtida nas visitas 1, 3, 6 e 12 foi comparada com aquela obtida antes do início do tratamento. Para todos os genótipos, a análise pareada da EMC mostrou melhora estatisticamente significativa em todas as avaliações. Conclusão: pacientes portadores do genótipo CC apresentaram pior resposta funcional em longo prazo após o tratamento com ranibizumabe intravítreo. .

CFH Y402H polymorphism and response to intravitreal ranibizumab in Brazilian patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between CFH gene polymorphism and response to ranibizumab in Brazilian patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: 95 patients were genotyped for the CFH rs1061170 (Y402H) single nucleotide polymorphism. Patients with neovascular AMD initially received intravitreal ranibizumab injections for three months and were retreated as needed. Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment. RESULTS: For patients with the TT and TC genotypes, paired comparisons of VA showed a statistically significant improvement when the data obtained at all visits were compared with baseline. Patients homozygous for the risk genotype (CC) did not show a statistically significant improvement when VA obtained at visits 1, 3, 6 and 12 were compared with baseline. For all genotypes, paired comparisons of CRT showed a statistically significant improvement when the data obtained at visits 1, 3, 6 and 12 were compared with baseline. CONCLUSION: Patients with the CC genotype showed poorer long-term functional response to intravitreal ranibizumab.

VEGF gene polymorphism and response to intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the association between VEGF gene polymorphism and response to ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: A total of 92 patients were genotyped for the VEGF rs1413711 single nucleotide polymorphism. Patients with neovascular AMD initially received 3 monthly ranibizumab intravitreal injections and were retreated as needed. Visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: For patients with TT and CT genotypes, paired comparisons of mean VA showed improvement when the data obtained at all visits were compared with baseline values, in contrast to patients with the CC genotype. CRT statistically improved at all visits for all genotypes. CONCLUSION: Patients with the CC genotype showed poorer long-term functional and anatomical response to anti-VEGF therapy.

Estudo clínico e padrão de herança em pacientes com retinose pigmentar / Clinical study and pattern of inheritance in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

OBJETIVO: Realizar análise epidemiológica de pacientes com retinose pigmentar (RP), caracterizando aspectos clínicos da doença e o padrão de herança encontrado em nosso meio, de acordo com a presença ou não de síndrome de Usher. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 155 pacientes com RP, tendo sido a amostra dividida em 2 grupos: grupo 1 (n=130), com pacientes diagnosticados com RP clássica, sem associação com alterações sistêmicas; e grupo 2 (n=25), com pacientes diagnosticados com Síndrome de Usher (USH). Foram caracterizados aspectos clínicos da doença (sexo, idade, sintomas oculares, acuidade visual, alterações do segmento anterior e posterior e alterações em exames complementares) e o padrão de herança encontrado. Os dados foram obtidos através de anamnese, exame oftalmológico completo e exames subsidiários (campo visual manual, eletrorretinograma, retinografia simples e fluorescente), no período de fevereiro de 2003 a dezembro de 2009. Foi utilizado o programa SPSS versão 13.0 para análise dos dados estatísticos. RESULTADOS: A herança autossômica recessiva foi a forma mais comumente encontrada (76,2% no grupo 1), mas em proporção maior do que a de outros trabalhos da literatura. Um menor número de casos com padrão recessivo ligado ao X (1,5%) também foi notado no grupo 1. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as características clínicas entre os dois grupos. CONCLUSÃO: O padrão de herança encontrado nos pacientes com RP clássica foi similar ao encontrado em outros trabalhos. As características clínicas foram semelhantes nos dois grupos estudados.

OBJECTIVE: To make an epidemiological analysis of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), characterizing clinical aspects of the disease and the pattern of inheritance found in the population studied, according to the presence or not of Usher Syndrome. METHODS: 155 patients with RP were studied and the sample was divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 130) with patients diagnosed with classical RP not associated with systemic symptoms; and group 2 (n = 25) with patients diagnosed with Usher syndrome (USH). We characterized clinical aspects of the disease (sex, age, ocular symptoms, visual acuity and anterior and posterior segment changes) and the pattern of inheritance. Data were obtained through medical history, complete ophthalmic examination and complementary exams (manual visual field, electroretinogram, retinography and fluorescent angiography) for the period of February 2003 to December 2009. We used SPSS version 13.0 for statistical data analysis. RESULTS: The autosomal recessive inheritance was the most commonly found (76.2% in group 1), but in greater proportion than that of other studies. A smaller number of cases with X-linked recessive pattern (1.5%) was also noted in group 1. There was no statistically significant difference between the clinical characteristics of the two groups. CONCLUSION: The pattern of inheritance found in patients with classical RP was similar to that found in other studies. Clinical characteristics were similar in both groups.

Importance of genetic polymorphisms in the response to age-related macular degeneration treatment / Importância dos polimorfismos genéticos na resposta terapêutica da degeneração macular relacionada à idade

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative disorder that affects the central retina and involves the Bruch's membrane, the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms of the CFH, LOC387715 and VEGF genes are associated with AMD. Herein, we review the literature to analyze the association between the main genetic polymorphisms and the response to the existing therapeutic modalities. Patients with CFH high-risk alleles show a poorer response to preventive treatment of AMD with antioxidants and zinc.The association between genetic polymorphisms and response to photodynamic therapy and antiangiogenic drugs, however, is controversial until now.

A degeneração macular relacionada à idade (DMRI) é uma doença degenerativa que afeta a retina central e envolve a membrana de Bruch, o epitélio pigmentar da retina e os fotorreceptores. Estudos recentes têm mostrado que polimorfismos dos genes CFH, LOC387715 e VEGF estão associados com a DMRI. Neste trabalho, é feita uma revisão da literatura para análise da associação entre os principais polimorfismos genéticos e a resposta às diferentes modalidades terapêuticas existentes. Observa-se que os pacientes portadores dos alelos de risco do gene CFH apresentam uma pior resposta ao tratamento preventivo da DMRI com antioxidantes e zinco. Já a associação entre o polimorfismo genético e a resposta à terapia fotodinâmica e às drogas antiangiogênicas é, até o momento, controversa.

[Characteristics of patients with pterygium in the Botucatu region]. / Características de portadores de pterígio na região de Botucatu.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics of patients with conjunctival pterygia in the Botucatu region (São Paulo State). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the gender, occupation, complaints and lesion characteristics (primary or recurrent lesion, size, involutive or pulpous) of patients with pterygium. The data were submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Approximately half of the patients were female and over 40 years old. The main complaint was the esthetic effect of the lesion. The majority of the lesions were primary (77.08%), grade 2 (69.6%) and pulpous (86.7%). Pterygium grade 4 was present in the 1.4% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Most patients were female, over 40 years old. Primary, grade 2 and pulpous lesion was the most frequently observed. Blindness caused by pterygium is still present in Brazil.

Características de portadores de pterígio na região de Botucatu / Characteristics of patients with pterygium in the Botucatu region

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características dos portadores de pterígio na região de Botucatu (SP). MÉTODOS: Portadores de pterígio foram avaliados quanto à idade, sexo, profissão, queixas e características da lesão (primário ou recidivado, tamanho, carnoso ou involutivo). Os dados foram submetidos à avaliação estatística. RESULTADOS: Cerca de metade dos portadores eram do sexo feminino, a maioria com idade superior a 40 anos, que procuraram o tratamento com queixa do efeito anti-estético da lesão. A maioria das lesões era primária (77,08 por cento), grau 2 (69,6 por cento) e do tipo carnoso (86,7 por cento). Pterígio grau 4 esteve presente em 1,4 por cento dos pacientes. CONCLUSAO: Observou-se maior freqüência de portadores de pterígio entre mulheres, acima dos 40 anos e portadoras de pterígio primário, grau 2 e carnoso. A cegueira por pterígio ainda está presente em nosso meio.