RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic characteristics and intraoperative complications of cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases of 225 eyes (80 eyes with pseudoexfoliation and 145 eyes without pseudoexfoliation as the control group) that underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery and IOL implantation at the Silifke State Hospital Ophthalmology Clinic between April 2011 and April 2013 were analysed retrospectively. Patients with a history of previous ocular surgeries, ocular trauma, uveitis, glaucoma or corneal pathology were not included in the study. All cataract procedures were performed by the same surgeon. Patients' age, gender, anterior segment and fundus findings in both eyes, presence of pseudoexfoliative material, pre- and postoperative day 1 intraocular pressure (IOP) and surgery notes were evaluated. RESULTS: There were 51 (34.7%) males and 29 (38.6%) females among the PEX cataract patients, and 98 (65.3%) male and 47 (61.8%) female controls. The incidence of pseudoexfoliation was similar in women (38.2%) and men (34.7%) (p=0.660). The mean age was 74.64±6.8 in the PEX group and 68.95±7.5 in the control group. Mean age was significantly higher in the PEX group compared to controls (p<0.001). Poor pupil dilation occurred intra-operatively in 60 (75%) of the patients with pseudoexfoliation and in 17 (11.7%) of the control patients. Frequency of poor intraoperative pupil dilation was significantly higher in the PEX group (p<0.001). Intraoperative vitreous loss occurred in 7 (8.8%) PEX patients and 5 (3.4%) controls, but this difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.090). CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware of the potential complications of cataract procedures in patients with PEX. Caution should be taken at every stage of the surgery to prevent these complications, and surgeons should be knowledgeable and skilful in complication management should they arise.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the relationships between serum endocan, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in active Behçet disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with active Behçet disease (24 males, 16 females; mean age 37.6±8.7 years; range 20 to 50 years) and 40 healthy controls (22 males, 18 females; mean age 38.8±7.9 years; range 21 to 52 years) were included in this study. Both patient and control groups underwent a complete systemic and ophthalmic examination by the same specialist. Endocan, VEGF, and TNF-α levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit in all subjects. RESULTS: Serum endocan levels were 775.2±479.3 ng/mL and 275.8±145.8 ng/mL in the patient and control groups, respectively. VEGF levels were 1768.2±900.5 pg/mL and 980.2±135.3 pg/mL in the patient and control groups, respectively. TNF-α levels were 22.4±74.3 pg/mL-1 and 11.4±16.9 pg/mL-1 in the patient and control groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of serum endocan, VEGF, and TNF-α levels. There was a significant positive correlation between serum endocan and VEGF levels in the patient group (r=0.630; p<0.001). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum endocan and TNF-α levels in the patient group (r=0.713; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum endocan level may be a new marker in evaluation of both the prognosis and activity of Behçet disease.
