Antiviral therapy defiant mixed viral retinitis post hematopoietic allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is an uncommon presentation post allogeneic transplant and can be vision-threatening. Our case demonstrates the occurrence of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) proven mixed viral retinitis (cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus) post allogeneic stem cell transplant despite multiple prophylactic antiviral therapies, including letermovir, and in the documented absence of CMV DNAemia. A 21-year-old female with acute myeloid leukemia presented with mixed viral retinitis (cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus) post allogenic transplant. This presentation occurred despite ongoing standard prophylaxis for both of these viruses, as well as following two courses of treatment for CMV viremia, with a documented negative CMV PCR in the blood prior to the presentation with retinitis. The patient was treated with intravenous ganciclovir and subsequently transitioned to oral valganciclovir with durable resolution of the retinitis. We report a rare case of mixed viral retinitis occurring despite multiple antiviral prophylaxes including letermovir and with PCR-documented absence of preceding CMV viremia, in a post-allogeneic stem cell transplant patient, with PCR of the aqueous fluid demonstrating two viral populations. With very little existing literature on either mixed viral retinitis or CMV retinitis during letermovir prophylaxis, this case expands the literature on both topics. CMV retinitis is an uncommon potentially vision threatening presentation post hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and can occur due to early CMV reactivation, low CD4 count, and delayed CD4 lymphocyte recovery. Letermovir has poor CNS and retinal penetration. This case highlights the need for more research on secondary prophylaxis with letermovir.

Bilateral Panuveitis Associated with Morvan Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: Morvan syndrome (MoS) is a neurologic disorder belonging to a spectrum of autoimmune encephalitis, Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) antibody syndrome. We report a case of bilateral panuveitis associated with MoS. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: A 57-year-old male with Morvan syndrome presented with painless vision loss and floaters. Initial visual acuities were 20/50 and 20/60. Hallmarks of this uveitis included persistently active vitritis, and nonhemorrhagic retinitis with nonperfusion and neovascularization. Uveitis consistently flared with attempted immunosuppressive tapers. Vision deteriorated to count fingers (2 ft) OU over 2.5 years despite corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, adalimumab, and rituximab. Explanations for reduced final visual acuity included macular atrophy, disruption of retinal architecture, epiretinal membrane, vitritis, and cataract. CONCLUSIONS: This case constitutes the first report of uveitis associated with MoS and Caspr2 antibody syndrome, raising the question of autoimmunity targeting the retinal inner and/or outer plexiform layers.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome in a Canadian First Nations Population.

PURPOSE: To characterize presentations, characteristics and outcomes of uveitis in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome in a North American First Nations (FN) population. METHODS: Charts of 27 Canadian FN patients with VKH uveitis were retrospectively reviewed to characterize demographics, disease characteristics, management, complications and visual outcomes. RESULTS: Average age at uveitis onset was 30.9 ± 13.8 years. Twenty-six patients 10 (96.3%) were female. Nine patients (33.3%) demonstrated complete VKH, 8 (29.6%) incomplete, and 10 (37%) probable VKH. Systemic associations included integumentary (19 patients, 70%), neurologic (17 patients, 63%), and auditory (13 patients, 48%) findings. Initial rates of mild, moderate and severe vision loss were 19 eyes (35.2%), 12 eyes (22.2%), and 23 eyes (42.6%), respectively, compared with final rates of 19 eyes (35.2%), 14 eyes (25.6%) and 21 eyes (38.9%), respectively. Average change in visual acuity was 15 0.1 ± 6.3 Snellen lines. Rates of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) use (10 patients, 37%) fell short of targets. CONCLUSIONS: VKH may cause potentially severe uveitis in this population. Comorbidities including tuberculosis and diabetes, in addition to unique cultural, linguistic and geographic factors, may necessitate complex, individualized management strategies.

Surgeon identification of pain catastrophizing versus the Pain Catastrophizing Scale in orthopedic patients after routine surgical consultation

Background: A high level of pain catastrophizing has negative influences on outcomes in many surgical disciplines. Our purpose was to determine whether surgeons are able to accurately identify high catastrophizing in orthopedic patients after routine clinical consultation. Methods: In this prospective study, English-literate patients aged 18 years or older were assessed by 1 of 11 orthopedic surgeons. Patients completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the surgeon rated each patient as having a high or low level of catastrophizing after the clinical encounter. We calculated accuracy and agreement of surgeon assessment with the PCS at a cut-off score of 30 (score ≥ 30 = high level of catastrophizing) and used multivariate testing to determine whether patient age or sex, surgeon experience or subscores of the PCS (rumination, magnification and helplessness) influenced surgeon accuracy. Results: Among 203 patients (109 women and 94 men), the mean PCS score was 18.4 (standard deviation 12.9), with no sex difference and no significant correlation to patient age. Of the 40 patients who scored 30 or more on the PCS, 22 (55%) were not identified as having high levels of catastrophizing by their surgeon. Accuracy was 0.72, and agreement was 0.2. Female patients were more likely than male patients to be identified as high catastrophizing regardless of PCS score (odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.04­4.0). Conclusion: Surgeons were not able to accurately identify patients with high levels of pain catastrophizing during routine initial consultation. In considering which patients may most benefit from interventions to improve coping and reduce catastrophizing, explicitly measuring pain catastrophizing will be required.

Contexte: Un niveau élevé de dramatisation face à la douleur a une influence négative sur les résultats dans plusieurs disciplines chirurgicales. Notre objectif était de déterminer si les chirurgiens orthopédistes sont capables d'identifier avec précision un niveau élevé de dramatisation de la douleur chez les patients après une consultation clinique de routine. Méthodes: Au cours de cette étude prospective, des patients capables de communiquer en anglais âgés de 18 ans ou plus ont été évalués par un de 11 chirurgiens orthopédistes. Les patients ont répondu au questionnaire PCS (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), une échelle de mesure de la dramatisation face à la douleur, et après la consultation clinique, le chirurgien assignait à chaque patient un niveau faible ou élevé de dramatisation. Nous avons calculé la justesse et la concordance de l'évaluation du chirurgien avec le score PCS, avec un score seuil de 30 (score ≥ 30 = niveau élevé de dramatisation) et utilisé un test multivarié pour déterminer si l'âge ou le sexe, l'expérience du chirurgien ou certaines sous-échelles de la PCS (rumination, amplification et sentiment d'impuissance) influaient sur le jugement du chirurgien. Résultats: Sur 203 patients (109 femmes et 94 hommes), le score PCS moyen a été de 18,4 (écart-type 12,9), sans différence liée au sexe ni corrélation significative avec l'âge des patients. Sur les 40 patients ayant obtenu un score de 30 ou plus à l'échelle PCS, 22 (55 %) n'ont pas été identifiés comme présentant des niveaux élevés de dramatisation par les chirurgiens. La précision a été de 0,72, et la concordance de 0,2. Les patientes étaient plus susceptibles que les patients d'être identifiées comme présentant un niveau élevé de dramatisation, indépendamment du score à l'échelle PCS (rapport des cotes 2,0, intervalle de confiance à 95 % 1,04­4,0). Conclusion: Les chirurgiens ont été incapables d'identifier avec précision les patients présentant des niveaux élevés de dramatisation face à la douleur durant la consultation initiale de routine. Pour savoir quels patients sont plus susceptibles de bénéficier d'interventions visant à améliorer leurs capacités d'adaptation et réduire la dramatisation, il faudra des mesures précises du niveau de dramatisation face à la douleur.

Analysis of uveitis in a Canadian aboriginal population.

OBJECTIVE: To compare patient demographics, uveitis characteristics, and outcomes in aboriginal First Nations (FN) versus non-aboriginal non-FN uveitis patients. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three FN patients (80 eyes) and 45 control non-FN uveitis patients (69 eyes). METHODS: Retrospective chart review comparing patient demographics (age, sex, residency), disease characteristics (laterality, anatomic classifications, granulomatous and chronic inflammation, systemic associations, specific uveitis diagnoses), and disease severity-related outcomes (therapies, visual outcomes, complications) between FN versus control patients. RESULTS: Mean age at disease onset was significantly younger in FN patients (30.4 years) versus control patients (40.2 years; p < 0.0001). Bilateral uveitis was significantly more common in the FN group (86%) versus control patients (51%; p = 0.0005), and granulomatous uveitis was significantly more common in FN patients (53%) than among control patients (11%; p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in rates of chronic uveitis between groups, identified in 74% of FN versus 60% of control subjects (p = 0.15). Anatomically, panuveitis was the prevalent form of uveitis within the FN group, occurring in 67% (versus 16% in control patients), whereas anterior uveitis was the prevalent anatomic classification in control patients, occurring in 73% (versus 26% in FN patients; p < 0.001). Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome was the predominant causative uveitis diagnosis within the FN group, identified in 56% of FN patients versus 0% of control subjects (p < 0.001). Idiopathic uveitis was the predominant causative diagnosis within the control group and was identified in 40% of control patients, compared with 19% of FN uveitis patients (p = 0.002). All therapies except anterior segment surgeries (p = 0.88) were required more often in FN, including systemic corticosteroids (p = 0.002), injected corticosteroids (p = 0.042), systemic immunosuppression (p = 0.021), glaucoma therapy (p = 0.005), laser (p < 0.001), and posterior segment surgeries (p = 0.002). Complication rates were higher in FN patients (p < 0.001). Final visual outcome was worse in FN patients (35% FN ≤ 20/200 versus 9% control subjects; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple findings differed strikingly between FN and control patients. Uveitis in FN patients was characterized by significantly younger age of onset. FN patients were more likely to have bilateral disease, panuveitis, and granulomatous disease. With respect to specific uveitic entities, VKH was more common in FN patients. FN patients also required more aggressive therapies, and yet had higher complication rates and had poorer visual outcomes.

Relative prevalence of Aboriginal patients in a Canadian uveitic population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the prevalence of Aboriginal patients in a consecutive series of patients with uveitis differs significantly from the prevalence of Aboriginal persons in the general population. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: 133 consecutive patients with uveitis. METHODS: The proportion of Aboriginal patients in a series of 133 consecutive patients with uveitis was compared to the proportion of Aboriginal persons within the general population to determine whether Aboriginal patients were under- or overrepresented in the population with uveitis, relative to their numbers in the population in general. The main outcome measure was the self-reported race of patients. The mean age, sex, and prior disease duration were also compared between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal patients in the consecutive series. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (p = 0.84) between the proportion of Aboriginal persons in the uveitis population studied (22 of 133; 16.5%) compared to general population census data (15.5% Aboriginal). Mean age at presentation was 36.8 years in the Aboriginal population versus 47.3 years in the control non-Aboriginal group (p = 0.01). Mean prior disease duration was 20.3 months in the Aboriginal population versus 21.1 months in the control group (p = 0.79). The gender proportion was 68.2% female in the Aboriginal group versus 53.2% female in the non-Aboriginal group (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study finds no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of Aboriginal versus non-Aboriginal persons occurring within a consecutive series of uveitis patients as compared to the general population. Mean age at presentation was significantly younger, and female preponderance was significantly greater in the Aboriginal than in the non-Aboriginal group. Prior disease duration was comparable in the 2 groups.