[Argon laser iridoplasty in the treatment of angle closure glaucoma with plateau iris syndrome]. / L'iridoplastie au laser Argon dans le traitement du glaucome par fermeture de l'angle avec iris plateau.

INTRODUCTION: Plateau iris predisposes to the onset of an angle-closure glaucoma attack without pupillary block. This is a morphological anomaly of the iris characterized by anterior insertion, root thickness greater than the norm, and anterior rotation of the ciliary processes into the posterior chamber, pushing the base of the iris into the angle. Argon laser iridoplasty is useful to retract the peripheral iris using the thermal effect of the laser to widen the iridocorneal angle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study investigated nine eyes of five patients who had had iridoplasty for iris plateau angle-closure glaucoma, diagnosed by dynamic gonioscopy (or indentation gonioscopy) and confirmed by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). There were four females and one male, with a mean age of 42.2 years (range, 30-53 years). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) before iridoplasty was 21.1 mmHg. The number of antiglaucoma treatments was 1 or 2, with all patients receiving miotic treatment. All patients had undergone argon laser iridotomy beforehand to remove the pupillary block frequently associated with iris plateau. Iridoplasty was done in two sessions with postoperative IOP-lowering treatment. The laser parameters used were: duration, 0.3 s; power, 500 mW; diameter, 300 microm. RESULTS: The postoperative IOP evaluated at 1 month was 14.4 mmHg with a reduction in the hypotensive treatment. No treatment was prescribed for four eyes, a single hypotensive treatment for four eyes, and two hypotensive medications for one eye. DISCUSSION: Pure iris plateau syndrome, leading to closure of the angle, is very rare compared to pupillary block, but these two mechanisms often co-exist. The physiopathology explains that the mechanism of isolated iris plateau is not modified by iridectomy. However, the advantage of argon laser iridoplasty, which retracts the periphery of the iris so as to widen the iridocorneal angle, must be emphasized. This technique can alleviate the need for high-risk filtering surgery, but longer follow-up is necessary to evaluate its duration and efficacy.

Nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy: a 6-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Nonpenetrating trabeculectomy, also called nonpenetrating deep sclerectomy (NPDS), is a filtering surgery where the internal wall of Schlemm's canal is excised, allowing subconjunctival filtration without actually entering the anterior chamber. This, technique was developed to minimize the complications of trabeculectomy. The authors investigated its safety and efficacy in a retrospective noncomparative study. METHODS: A total of 258 eyes (179 patients, mean age 61.4 +/- 11.56 years) with uncontrolled open angle glaucoma with prior medical therapy were treated. NPDS with a biocompatible collagen device (157 eyes) sutured to deep scleral bed or with the use of a 5-fluorouracil sponge (90 eyes) were analyzed. The main outcome measure was postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) with an average follow-up of 54.4 +/- 17.07 months (range 1-85). Efficacy was determined 1 month, 3 months, and every 6 months after the procedure for 6 years. RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP was 24.47 +/- 5.92 mmHg. Mean postoperative IOP was 14.44 +/- 5.31 mmHg (average lowering of the IOP was 38.94 +/- 23.81%) at 1 month, 15.16 +/- 4.57 mmHg (35.73 +/- 21.35%) at 3 months, 15.87 +/- 4.24 mmHg (32.45 +/- 20.52%) at 6 months, 16.32 +/- 4.53 mmHg (29.96 +/- 23.69%) at 12 months, 17.12 +/- 4.45 mmHg (26.51 +/- 23.93%) at 18 months, 16.77 +/- 4.44 mmHg (28.18 +/- 21.73%) at 24 months, 16.43 +/- 4.15 mmHg (28.89 +/- 23.69%) at 30 months, 16.34 +/- 4.12 mmHg (30.05 +/- 21.61%) at 36 months, 16.16 +/- 4.01 mmHg (30.06 +/- 22.55%) at 42 months, 15.71 +/- 3.74 mmHg (32.49 +/- 19.08%) at 48 months, 15.61 +/- 3.48 mmHg (31.26 +/- 21.01%) after 5 years, and 15.81 +/- 3.79 mmHg (33.73 +/- 20.9%) after 6 years. YAG goniopuncture was performed in 47.3% of cases with a mean follow-up of 12 +/- 13 months. These goniopunctures were effective in lowering IOP after a long-term follow-up (24 months). Additional 5-fluorouracil injections were used in 7% of cases. Visual field (Octopus or Humphrey mean defect and corrected loss variance or loss variance) was not modified (p < 0.01). Number of preoperative glaucoma medications was 2.01 +/- 0.58 and number of postoperative glaucoma medications was 0.85 +/- 0.92. Complications were peroperative microperforations in 27 eyes (10.5%), shallow anterior chamber in 2 eyes, hyphema in 2 eyes (0.8%), cataract in 5 eyes (2%), and dellen in 1 eye (0.4%). No cases of endophthalmitis or choroidal detachment were found. After surgery, 23 eyes (8.9%) required a new filtering surgical procedure, and diode laser cyclophotocoagulation was necessary in 2 eyes (0.8%). The probability success rate, defined as an IOP lower than 21 mmHg, was 66.46% (Kaplan Meier) at 60 months off all glaucoma medications and 80.32% with medical or new surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: NPDS appears to be an effective and safe filtering procedure for lowering IOP and could be an alternative to trabeculectomy in open angle glaucoma with the advantage of having fewer complications.

[Scoring system for chronic open glaucoma]. / Evaluation du glaucome chronique à angle ouvert par un score de gradation: analyse préliminaire.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate a scoring system for chronic open-angle glaucoma. We devised an empirical scoring system grading severity of the disease and correlated this with treatment. MATERIAL: and methods: Ninety patients were evaluated on 11 parameters: 1) Family history of glaucoma: blindness (2), yes (1) no (1); 2) Age: infantile (4), juvenile (4); 3) Race: Caucasian (0), Asian (1), Afro-Caribbean (2); 4) Myopia: 0-6 diopters (1), 6-12 diopters (2),>12 diopters (3); 5) Pigment dispersion or pseudoexfoliation (1); 6) Intraocular pressure without treatment:>30 mmHg (4); 25-30 mmHg (3), 20-25 mmHg (2); 7) Corneal central thickness:<500 micro m (3),>500 micro m (0); 8) Optic disc appearance: suspect (1), pathological (4); 9) Visual field defect: early (1), moderate (3), advanced (5); 10) Vascular risk factors: yes (1), no (0); 11) Loss of eyesight in one eye due to glaucoma (4). Scoring values were 2-34. We correlated this score with patient treatment: medical or surgical, number of glaucoma medications. RESULTS: Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (36 patients), score 0-8; group 2 (24 patients), score 9-13; group 3 (30 patients), score above 13. Distribution between patients treated with medicine (mean number of medications) and patients with filtering surgery was: group 1, medical treatment with 1.63+/-0.73 medications, surgery 4/36; group 2, medical treatment with 2.00+/-0.7 medications, surgery 17/24 and group 3, medical treatment with 2.12+/-0.67 medications, surgery 27/30. In group 1, 88% of the patients did not have filtering surgery, but 90% of the patients in group 3 had filtering surgery. CONCLUSION: This scoring system seems to be an easy and practical tool to evaluate chronic open-angle glaucoma, which could also be used to evaluate target pressure. Other studies are necessary to validate this scoring system.

[Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy combined with a collagen implant in primary open-angle glaucoma. Medium-term retrospective results]. / La sclérectomie profonde non perforante associée à la pose d'un implant de collagène dans le glaucome primitif à angle ouvert. Résultats rétrospectifs à moyen terme.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the middle term tonometric results of a new filtering procedure, the non penetrating deep sclerectomy with collagen device, in primary open-angle glaucoma. This technique aims to eliminate or minimize the complications of classical trabeculectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This procedure has been developed by Koslov et al. Under a limbal-base conjunctival flap and a superficial scleral flap, the ablation of a deep scleral flap takes away the external wall of Schlemm's canal, leaving only the Descemet membrane. A visible filtration across the opened Schlemm's canal and Descemet membrane is obtained. To improve the aqueous filtration, a cylindric collagen device, made from biocompatible porcine scleral tissue, known for its high water content, is fixed in the deep scleral bed with a 10/0 nylon suture. This device provides a support for the elimination route of aqueous humor and acts like a sponge, carrying the liquid by capillary action. It is sterilized by irradiation. Full guarantee against viral contamination is provided. This procedure ends in one suture (40/0 nylon) of superficial scleral flap and conjunctival closing suture. We conducted a retrospective study. Our material included 159 patients (92 males, 65 females), 2/9 eyes. The mean age was 65 years (11-91). The mean follow-up : 8 months (3-20). The types of glaucoma were: POAG: 183 eyes; juvenile POAG: 18 eyes: pigmentary glaucoma: 11 eyes; capsular glaucoma: 7 eyes, 58 eyes (40 patients) presented one or several risk factors of failure for filtering surgery. RESULTS: The mean pre-operative IOP was 24 mmHg +/- 6.60; 15.7 +/- 5.30 at the end of the follow-up (delta average IOP: 9.1 +/- 7.1). The probability success rate (IOP < or = 20 mmHg), according to the Kaplan-Meier Method, was 89% at six months, 75.6% at 16 months. With monotherapy with beta blockers, 79% at 16 months. It was better in the without risk factors group. The mean change in visual acuity was inferior to 0.1 at the end of the follow-up. Except several hyphemas, no complications of the trabeculectomy were observed. The reelevation of IOP was due to an internal obstruction (goniosynechiae or bad filtration), it was treated with Nd-Yag laser with a 2/3 of success rate. External obstruction was treated by 5FU injections into the bleb. CONCLUSION: Non penetrating deep sclerectomy with collagen device can be an excellent alternative to trabeculectomy in open and wide angles. It does not modify visual actuity. It carries less complications than trabeculectomy and the use of antimitotic agents is safer.

[Mid-term results of a double-blind study comparing metipranolol to timolol in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma]. / Résultats d'une étude à moyen terme à double insu comparant le métipranolol au timolol dans le traitement du glaucome primitif à angle ouvert.

A study on 26 patients with chronic angle glaucoma was completed after 17 weeks. The IOP was satisfactorily stabilized on patients treated with Metipranolol drops. In the Timolol group, the IOP rose again after the 9th week and, at the completion of the study, the difference between the averages of the two groups is significant. No systemic effect was noted as well in the Metipranolol group as in the Timolol group.

[Results 1 year after trabeculoretraction by 360 degree argon laser in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma]. / Résultats à un an de la trabéculorétraction au laser à l'argon sur 360 degrees, dans le traitement des glaucomes à angle ouvert.

On 210 glaucomatous patients (119 men, 91 women), 390 eyes with open angle chronic glaucoma, we have performed an argon laser trabeculoplasty according to Wise technique (360 degrees in one time). ALT was presented as an alternative to surgery. Therefore results were appreciated so that ALT allowed or not to avoid surgery. After one year, the rate of failures was: on all the 390 eyes: 15 p. cent on O.A.C.G. simplex: 6.7 p. cent on myopic glaucoma: 7 p. cent on pigmentary glaucoma: 29.5 p. cent on capsular glaucoma: 6 p. cent after trabeculectomy: 62 p. cent on aphakic glaucoma: 50 p. cent on secondary glaucoma: 33 p. cent on combined glaucoma: 0 p. cent In the group of successful results, ALT allowed to lower medical treatment in at less 70 p. cent after one year of follow-up except for pigmentary glaucoma where, in almost all cases, medication before ALT had to be continued.

[Disulfiram-induced peripheral neuropathies (author's transl)]. / Les neuropathies périphériques dues au disulfirame.

A 28-year-old woman experienced a confusional attack with hallucinations associated with moderate motor deficiency of the lower limbs during treatment with disulfiram 1 g/day. Later on, a temporary increase in disulfiram dosage to 1.75 g/day was followed by quadriplegia and paralysis of the facial and glosso-pharyngeal nerves. Paralysis regressed rapidly in the cranial and upper limb areas, but very slowly in the lower limbs. Disulfiram-induced peripheral neuropathies are not uncommon. They may take various forms, such as optic neuritis, polyneuritis of the limbs and, exceptionally, severe multiple paralysis with psychic disorders, as in the case reported here.

[Long term administration of oral prednisone or prednisolone in treatment of myasthenia gravis. Report of five cases (author's transl)]. / Traitement de la myasthénie par la prednisone ou prednisolone administrrée par voie orale au long cours. A propos de cinq observations.

Five patients, four of them with severe or severe generalized myasthenia gravis, were treated by long term orally administrated prednisolone, with following results: one complete remission and two almost complete remissions (in three aged fernale patients), two substantial improvements (one in a male patient, one in a young adult female patient, both thymectomized). The least favourable result was observed in the male patient. Positive results of such treatment were similarly reported by several authors (with an average of 70% complete or almost complete remission, 20% substantial improvement, 7% moderate improvement). These results appear qualitatively superior to those obtained with ACTH, and may be long-lasting. Treatment with prednisolone may be applied to any form of myasthenia gravis, particularly those which do not react to anticholinesterasic agents in moderate dosages. At onset of treatment, patients should be under care of a reanimation unit. Dosage is initially high (60--100 mg daily, secondarily on alternate days), and should be reduced very slowly, once a definite improvement is achieved. The duration of this treatment depends upon the results obtained: it should not last under one year. Associated treatment with anticholinesterasic agents remains disputable, whereas associated thymectomy seems to provide best results.

[Plexus lesions following radiation therapy. Report of nineteen cases (author's transl)]. / Les atteintes plexiques post-radiothérapiques. A propos de dix-neuf cas.

Nineteen patients with plexus lesions following radiation therapy were investigated: fifteen with brachial plexus, 4 with lumbar or sacral plexus involvement. Symptoms at onset are usually sensory. Motor disturbances occur either simultaneously or after some delay, their course is generally gradual and unfavourable. Areflexia appears early and was present in every case. Important cutaneous lesions (radiodermitis) and considerable induration of soft tissues were observed in every patient. Diagnosis is a relapse of the mitotic process. Severity of prognosis makes imperative a definite technique of radiation therapy. In all the patients included in this study, dosage had exceded 1,600 rets. Patients were tentatively treated with D-penicillamine, an inhibitor of collagen synthesis.

[Ultrastructural study of a case of molluscum contagiosum (author's transl)]. / Ultrastructure du Molluscum contagiosum à localisation palpébrale.

This is the case of a female child with molluscum contagiosum widely disseminated around the mouth and the eye-lids. Antibiotics were used to stop local staphylococcal superinfection. Follicular conjunctivitis and keratitis punctata disappeared only after complete removal of all cutaneous lesions. Biological diagnosis was done by direct observation of the Poxvirus with the electron microscope, since isolation of the virus itself is impossible. Ultrastructural study of the excised tumor has shown the different stages of the growth of the virus, and the associated cellular lesions.

[Recurrent polyneuropathy with a 19-year course, associated with a benign IgG monoclonal gammapathy]. / Pol-neuropathie a rechutes, évoluant depuis 19 ans, associée à une gammapathie monoclonale IgG bénigne. Effet favorable de la corticothérapie

A case of recurrent polyradiculoneuritis in a 54-year-old man is described. It is exceptional because of its lengthy development over a period of 19 years and by its association with a paraprotein of the IgE type without anyother anomal. Corticotherapy had a favourable effect on the clinical symptoms but did not affect the amount of monoclonal immunoglobulin in the serum. The nosological position of this neuropathy and the type of gammapathy are discussed. An immune mechanism seems likely, but no proof of a link between the neuropathy and the gammapathy could be found.