METHYLCELLULOSE FOR ENDOTHELIAL CELL PROTECTION

A randomised trial of three types of endothelial cell protection for patients undergoing posterior chamber intraocular lens implant is described. The results confirm the superiority of a viscoelastic fluid over air as a form of endothelial cell protection. No statistically significant difference was found between sodium hyaluronate and hydroxypropylmethykellulose (HPMC). As the cost of sodium haluronate is prohibitive, a manufacturing technique for HPMC is given.     

The effect of cyclosporine on immunization with tetanus and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in humans

Eleven patients with chronic uveitis treated with Cyclosporine were immunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and tetanus toxoid. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity responses, lymphocyte blastogenic responses, and antibody production were compared with those of similarly immunized control individuals. A significant decrease in delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (P<0.001 for KLH andP<0.01 for tetanus toxoid) was observed. No significant differences in blastogenic or antibody responses were noted. These findings demonstrate that the majority of the Cyclosporine-treated patients had intact T cell-dependent antigen responses as measured by both proliferative response and antibody production to primary and secondary antigenic challenges but that other immune functions such as delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity are affected by therapeutic doses of systemic Cyclosporine.     

The Acute Retinal Necrosis Syndrome: Part 2: Histopathology and Etiology

The acute retinal necrosis syndrome is manifested by diffuse uveitis, vitritis, retinal vasculitis, and acute necrotizing retinitis (see Part 1). We studied the histopathology and electron microscopic findings of an eye enucleated from a 67-year-old man with typical acute retinal necrosis. Histology showed profound acute necrosis of the retina, retinal arteritis, and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in retinal cells. Electron microscopy demonstrated a herpes group virus in all layers of affected retina. The implications of these findings for antiviral and other treatments are discussed.     

Pseudotumor cerebri following cyclosporine A treatment in a boy with tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with uveitis

An 11-year-old boy with recurrent nephritis due to tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with uveitis (TINU syndrome) was treated with cyclosporin A (CSA) to induce sustained remission. CSA was introduced as a steroid-sparing drug because of extreme obesity (body mass index 32 kg/m²). Although the boy did not complain of any clinical symptoms, eye inspection after 7 months revealed bilateral disk edema with retinal bleeding and the patient developed cerebrospinal hypertension. Pseudotumor cerebri was diagnosed by measuring the intracranial pressure (31 cmH₂O) and normal computer tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Cessation of CSA therapy and treatment with mycophenolate mofetil led to resolution within 12 weeks.Supported by Forschungsunterstützungskreis Kindernephrologie e.V. Essen     

Anterior uveitis in a child with Takayasu's arteritis

Takayasu's arteritis is a rare idiopathic arteriopathy that produces narrowing and eventually closure of affected blood vessels. Ocular symptoms typically occur late in the disease process in those individuals who have severe involvement of the aortic arch and the carotid arteries. Visual loss typically occurs as a result of either systemic hypertension or concomitant ocular hypo-perfusion. We describe an unusual case of Takayasu's arteritis presenting in a child who complained of painful blurred vision. In this individual, no carotid artery disease was identified on vascular imaging and no evidence of impairment of ocular perfusion was demonstrable. Vision loss in this instance was due to anterior uveitis and cystoid maculopathy. These are atypical and rarely described features of Takayasu's arteritis. The patient responded well to anti-inflammatory treatment and his symptoms resolved. The clinical significance of these findings are discussed and the relevant literature reviewed.     

Paediatric uveitis: a Sydney clinic experience

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively review uveitis cases at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, since its inception in 1997 to 2001, including patients presenting at the Camperdown, Sydney, campus between 1989 and 1997 attending Westmead for further care. Comparison is made with international centres. METHODS: Information was obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Forty patients (53 eyes) presented, of whom 23 (57.5%) were female and 17 (42.5%) were male (mean age 6.7 years). Of 53 eyes, 35 (66%) had anterior uveitis, three (5.7%) intermediate uveitis, seven (13.2%) posterior uveitis and eight (15.1%) panuveitis. Twenty-seven (67.5%) patients had disease unilaterally and 13 (32.5%) bilaterally. Twenty-four (60%) cases were idiopathic. Seven (17.5%) cases were associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, three (7.5%) with herpes zoster, two (5%) with herpes simplex, two (5%) with toxocara, one (2.5%) with toxoplasma, and one (2.5%) with ulcerative colitis. Complications included cataract in 14 (26.4%) eyes; band keratopathy in four (7.5%) eyes; macular scarring in three (5.7%) eyes; and glaucoma in four (7.5%) eyes. Last measured acuity was 6/6 for 19 (35.8%) eyes, < or =6/18 for 15 (28.3%) eyes and <6/60 for eight (15.1%) eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite small numbers, the comparisons of this study with some international studies, and its contrasts with other studies, are due to similarities and differences amongst these studies with respect to factors of referral bias, and the aetiological basis of disease.     

The pathology and pathogenesis of retinal vasculitis

Retinal vasculitis is a rare, but potentially blinding intraocular inflammatory condition with diverse aetiology. Although commonly idiopathic, it has a strong association with systemic inflammatory diseases known to involve other areas of the central nervous system, most notably Behcet's disease, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosis and multiple sclerosis. This article describes the clinicopathologic features of retinal vasculitis and its visually damaging sequelae, reviewing available human histopathologic studies and work with experimental models to discuss the pathogenesis and immunopathology. Evidence indicates that noninfective retinal vasculitis is an autoimmune condition that may be induced by antecedent infection with microbes cross-reacting with putative autoantigens, influenced by genetic susceptibility of both HLA associations and cytokine polymorphisms. The growing understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in the effector immune response is already providing a rationale for more specific therapeutic approaches.     

Uveitis: what do we know and how does it help?

Uveitis essentially means intraocular inflammation and encompasses a wide variety of different disorders. This includes both mild and severe types of inflammation affecting different parts of the eye. Histologically, all uveitis is characterized by an influx of lymphocytes into the affected tissue. In all types these lymphocytes are predominantly of the CD4 type, whether the disorder is mild or blinding, giving no clue as to why. New studies comparing cells in ocular fluids taken from inflamed eyes with different types of inflammation have, for the first time, shown a difference in the cytokine profile, so that in visually benign disease interleukin 10 levels are higher than in those which are blinding.The potential for this in terms of therapy is discussed.     

The Use of Biologic Agents in the Treatment of Ocular Manifestations of Behcet’s Disease

Behçet’s Disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of uncertain etiology with a variety of potential manifestations throughout the body, and its ocular complications are some of its most devastating. Treatment with immunosuppressive agents has improved outcomes, but many patients suffer from disease that responds poorly to conventional therapies. Because of this, therapy with a variety of biological response modifiers has been employed. The earliest was interferon-α, and a multitude of reports have described its benefits for the uveitis associated with Behçet’s Disease. Many patients enjoy durable remissions of their ocular inflammatory disease even after discontinuation of therapy, but side-effects are almost universal and some can be dangerous. Of the newer biological response modifiers, infliximab, a monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, has been most extensively studied. It is reported to be rapidly effective in many cases of Behçet’s Disease uveitis, though with conflicting data as to the ability to induce durable remission after cessation of treatment. Side-effects are relatively rare, but may be serious. Several reports have been published on the use of other biologic agents, including adalimumab (a humanized antibody to TNF-α), etanercept (a molecule that resembles the TNF-α receptor), and rituximab (an antibody to CD20 that depletes the body of CD20-positive B cells). Of the three of these, adalimumab has the most promising initial evidence, etanercept has very few positive reports in patients with BD uveitis (and is likely ineffective in uveitis in general), and rituximab is lacking data. Although randomized controlled trials are almost completely lacking, currently available evidence is promising that biologic agents can prove an invaluable addition to the armamentarium of the practitioner treating patients with BD uveitis.     

葡萄膜炎并发白内障两种手术方法的探讨

目的 介绍2种小瞳孔下行葡萄膜炎并发性白摧障摘出和瞳孔成形的手术方法。方法 30例34只葡萄膜炎严重后粘连并发性白内障的眼接受了该2种手术，手术方法：91）剪除瞳孔区机化的前囊膜，瞳孔缘剪开，水分离核，囊袋内晶关於 本圈匙反转娩出晶状体体核。人工晶状体（IOL）植入；（2）上方虹膜根部切除，分离并剪开上方虹膜，超声乳化白内障摘出，IOL植入，最后缝合上方虹膜，人造圆形瞳孔。结果 术后34眼瞳孔均在3.0-3.5mm，并保持圆形，均无后囊膜破裂，无严重并发症发生，视力均比术前有不同程度的提高。结论 葡萄膜炎并发白内障。在采用所介绍的2种手术方法后能获得良好的视力和圆形瞳孔，而无严重并发症。