Influence of new societal factors on neovascular age-related macular degeneration outcomes.

BACKGROUND: To assess the impact of unstudied societal factors for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) on functional outcomes after anti-VEGFs. METHODS: Charts of 94 nAMD patients treated in the Monticelli-Paradis Centre, Marseille, France, were reviewed. Phone interviews were conducted to assess societal factors, including transportation, living status, daily reading and social security scheme (SSS). Primary outcome was the impact of family support and disease burden on functional improvement in nAMD. RESULTS: Between baseline and month 24 (M24), 42.4% of the variability in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was explained by the cumulative effect of the following societal factors: intermittent out-patient follow-up, marital status, daily reading, transportation type, commuting time. No isolated societal factor significantly correlated with ETDRS BCVA severity at M24. A trend to correlation was observed between the EDTRS score at M24 and the SSS (P = 0.076), economic burden (P = 0.075), time between diagnosis and treatment initiation (P = 0.070). A significant correlation was found for the disease burdensome on the patient (P = 0.034) and low vision rehabilitation (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Societal factors could influence functional outcomes in nAMD patients treated with anti-VEGFs. They could contribute to the healing process or sustain disease progression.

Ten years follow-up after surgery for a foveal detachment due to optic disc pit: a case report of outer retinal layer healing.

BACKGROUND: To report a case of complete progressive visual recovery and healing of outer retinal layers after vitrectomy for foveal detachment associated with optic disc pit. CASE PRESENTATION: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) follow-up was performed on a 15-year-old boy with deep optic disc pit and foveal detachment, before and for 10 years after vitrectomy with gas. The foveal detachment was successfully reattached with complete reapplication of the retina. OCT scans showed a progressive long-term retinal healing with reappearance of the ellipsoid line and visual acuity improved from 20/100 before surgery to 20/25, 10 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Photoreceptor regeneration after foveal detachment surgery has been already described only in zebrafish but never humans. However, we highlight with this case that in humans, a healing process of the outer retinal layers can occur with reappearance of the ellipsoid zone on OCT. This healing process may take several years and allow a complete functional restoration.

The AflibeRcept use in rEal life study for the treatment of diabetiC macular oedema In the French overseas territories: A 12 months follow-up Study - The RECIF Study.

PURPOSE: The incidence and severity of diabetes is particularly high in the French overseas territories (FOT). The RECIF study evaluated real life management of diabetic macular oedema (DME) treated by aflibercept in FOT. METHODS: A prospective, noncomparative, multicentric, non-interventional, study that evaluated functional and anatomical results of patients treated by aflibercept. Twelve retina specialists working in French Polynesia, La Reunion, Guadeloupe and Martinique participated in the study. RESULTS: 67 eyes of 57 patients were followed for 12 months. Average VA gain was 7.8 ETDRS letters. 29.9% of eyes gained at least 15 letters, 6% lost 15 letters or more. 67.2% of eyes achieved visual acuity of 70 letters or better. Average central retinal thickness decrease was 115.3 µm. The mean number of injections during the 1st year of treatment was 4.9. 69% of eyes had a loading dose of at least three-monthly injections. 3 eyes were switched to steroid injections during the follow-up for lack of efficacy. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the efficacy of intravitreal treatment of DME by aflibercept, in the French overseas territories. This evaluation of real-life management of DME underlines the importance of improvement of patient education and collaboration with referring physicians.

Clinical Study on the Initial Experiences of French Vitreoretinal Surgeons with Heads-up Surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the initial experience of four experienced vitreoretinal surgeons, in France, with a three-dimensional (3-D) system, and to explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of this technology. We also report anatomical surgical outcomes of full-thickness idiopathic macular holes (MH) and primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), by using traditional microscopy and heads-up method. Methods: Four French retinal surgeons performed several types of ophthalmic surgeries with this new technology. To compare the 3-D system with ocular viewing, ergonomics, educational value, image sharpness, depth perception, field of view, technical feasibility, advantages and disadvantages, and expectations for the future, were assessed using a questionnaire. We also compared the same questionnaire with the answers of six Brazilian experienced vitreoretinal surgeons. For treating MHs, the surgeons performed 88 surgeries (44 with microscopy and 44 with 3-D). They performed 100 PPV for treating primary RRD (50 with ocular viewing and 50 with 3-D). The visualization method for each patient, as well as the assignment of each surgeon for a specific patient, were all randomly selected. Results: On the questionnaire, 3-D was preferred to traditional microscopy, except for technical feasibility; the type of surgery benefitting most from the 3-D was macula surgery and the least was anterior segment surgery; the most used by all is the black and white filter in patients with atrophic RPE during ILM peeling. Eighty-one (92.1%) MHs was successfully closed with one surgery and out of the 100 eyes with a primary RRD, the anatomical success after 3 months of follow-up was 91%, with no statistical significance between 3-D and ocular viewing. Conclusions: The surgeons in this study preferred 3-D to ocular viewing. Vitrectomy surgery to treat MHs and RRDs can be performed using the 3-D with the same efficiency as microscopy. Digital integration of 3-D and iOCT can be useful in some cases. With continuous refinement to improve the ability to visualize inside of the eye, this promising technology may enhance what we do as surgeons.

Retinal detachment after phacoemulsification: a study of 114 cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the features of retinal detachment (RD) occurring after cataract surgery performed by Kelman phacoemulsification (KPE) and to identify any potential correlations between KPE intraoperative complications and the features of RD (incidence apart) as well as the final visual outcome. DESIGN: Interventional consecutive case series. METHODS: Retrospective review of 114 eyes of 114 consecutive patients with RD occurring after KPE and followed for 6 months or more after surgery. RESULTS: Removal of posteriorly dislocated lens fragments during KPE by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was associated with a significantly shorter time interval between KPE and RD (3.89 vs. 15.7 months, P =.0044). Once RD occurred, no other statistically significant correlation between its features or the final visual outcome and KPE intraoperative complications (posterior capsular rupture, vitreous loss, posteriorly dislocated lens fragments) was detected. The overall anatomic reattachment rate was 94%. Only redetachment associated with the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) was significantly correlated with ultimate anatomic failure (P =.0036). A best-corrected visual acuity of 20/60 or better was achieved in 58 out of 114 eyes (51%). Three variables were independently correlated with visual results: more extensive RD (P =.0001), redetachment associated with the development of PVR (P =.0029), and failure to identify retinal breaks (P =.0114). CONCLUSIONS: Posterior capsular rupture and vitreous loss during KPE do not seem to affect the features (incidence apart) or the final visual outcome of RD occurring afterwards, except for a shorter time interval between KPE and RD in eyes that underwent PPV to remove posteriorly dislocated lens fragments.

Dumbbell-shaped epidural capillary hemangioma.

We report a case of a purely epidural capillary hemangioma of the thoracic spine with foraminal extension. Epidural hemangiomas are rare; only a few cases of dumbbell-shaped ones have been reported, and all were cavernous. MR imaging showed characteristic findings of a capillary hemangioma, which are also consistent with other epidural lesions such as neuromas or meningiomas.

[Comparative study for ruptured aneurysms treated by surgery and endovascular method]. / Estudo comparativo entre aneurismas rotos tratados por cirurgia e por via endovascular.

The management of intracranial aneurysms has truly evolved after the introduction of the endovascular treatment. In this paper we compare patients that were operated or embolized for intracranial aneurysms. Between 1995 and 1999, 78 grade I to III ruptured aneurysms were treated in our service: 52 patients were operated, 21 were embolized and 5 were submitted to combinated endovascular and surgical treatment. In the surgical group, clinical outcome was very good in 80.8% of cases with 5% of mortality with 96.2% of total exclusion of the aneurysm. In the endovascular group, 95% of cases the clinical outcome was very good with only 42.8% of total exclusion of the aneurysm. By the endovascular method for treatment of aneurysms, we can obtain a good clinical outcome but a poor radiological outcome and sometimes need a complementary surgical procedure to treat residual aneurysm.

Symptomatic Moyamoya disease: clinical features and outcome after indirect bypass surgery in four French adults.

BACKGROUND: There are a few reports of moyamoya disease (MMD) in the European Caucasian adult population. We present the clinical manifestations, the neuroradiological aspects, the treatment, and the outcome after surgical revascularization of four French patients with MMD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified four adults (age >18 years; three women and one man) with MMD who underwent digital subtraction catheter angiography at our institution from 1997 through 2006. The median age at symptom onset was 35 years (range, 22 to 41 years). The initial clinical presentation was intracerebral hemorrhage in three patients and ischemic stroke in one patient. RESULTS: Three patients underwent bilateral surgical revascularization and one patient underwent unilateral surgical revascularization. All patients underwent the same surgical revascularization procedure (encephalo-duro-arterio-myo-synangiosis). The mean (+/-SD) period of follow-up after diagnosis of MMD was 6 years and 9 months (+/-3 years and 5 months). No patient experienced any recurrent hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. No perioperative stroke occurred. No patient was severely disabled or unable to walk. Three patients out of four were employed. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest safety and a potential benefit of surgical revascularization (indirect bypass surgery) in European adult patients with symptomatic MMD. Further long-term prospective multicenter studies are needed. The establishment of a registry would be useful in order to accumulate data in large numbers of European patients with this uncommon disease.

Estudo comparativo entre aneurismas rotos tratados por cirurgia e por via endovascular / Comparative study for ruptured aneurysms treated by surgery and endovascular method

Realizamos análise comparativa dos resultados clínicos e radiológicos após o tratamento de aneurisma roto, localizado no setor anterior, por cirurgia ou por via endovascular. Entre 1995 e 1999, 78 pacientes foram tratados em nosso serviço por apresentarem ruptura de aneurisma intracraniano com grau clínico (Hunt & Hess) variando entre I e III. Dentre estes pacientes, 52 foram operados, 21 embolizados e 5 fizeram tratamento combinado. Dos casos cirúrgicos, o resultado clínico foi considerado ótimo em 80,8 por cento com mortalidade de 5 por cento e oclusäo completa do aneurisma em 96,2 por cento. Dos pacientes embolizados, 95 por cento dos casos o resultado foi considerado ótimo com oclusäo completa do aneurisma em 42,8 por cento. O tratamento endovascular de aneurismas intracranianos apresenta uma vantagem no resultado clínico em relaçäo aos aneurismas operados. Porém, apresentam taxa de exclusäo completa baixa e podem necessitar de tratamento complementar

Neurocitomas do sistema nervoso central: análise clínico-patológica de três casos / Central nervous system neurocytomas: clinicopathological analysis of 3 cases

Os neurocitomas do sistema nervoso central säo tumores raros, na maioria intracranianos e caracterizados pela sua benignidade. Por muito tempo permaneceram insuficientemente conhecidos, em razäo da sua distinçäo clínica e radiológica difícil entre os tumores intraventriculares (ependimomas, papilomas do plexo coróide, oligodendrogliomas, astrocitomas sub-ependimßrios) e da semelhança histolóógica com os oligodendrogliomas. O diagnóstico passou a ser possível através da análise imuno-histoquínica específica e da microscopia eletrônica. Nós apresentamos três casos clínicos de neurocitomas intraventriculares confirmados pelo estudo imuno-histoquínico. A apresentaçäo clínica, os dados radiológicos, cirúrgicos, anatomopatológicos e o prognóstico seräo discutidos em comparaçäo aos dados recentes da literatura