Polymerase Chain Reaction and Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient Testing in the Diagnosis of Infectious Uveitis in HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Patients in South Africa

Purpose: To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC) calculation to diagnose infectious uveitis.

Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Results: Twenty-seven of 106 patients had positive PCR and/or GWC results on aqueous humor (AH) sampling and 15 of 27 (55.6%) were HIV-positive. Patients with non-anterior uveitis (NAU) were more likely to be HIV+ (p = 0.005). More than 1 possible pathogen was identified in 9 of 27 patients of whom 7 were HIV+. The final clinical diagnosis was discordant with AH findings in 9 of 27 cases. A positive EBV PCR result was associated with a discordant diagnosis (p = 0.001). All cases of herpetic anterior uveitis (42.9% HIV+) tested PCR-/GWC+ while all cases of herpetic NAU tested PCR+/GWC- (83.3% HIV+). All rubella virus cases were PCR+/GWC+.

Conclusion: PCR is useful to diagnose herpetic NAU in HIV+ patients while GWC is useful to diagnose herpetic anterior uveitis.     

Emerging Viral Infections Causing Anterior Uveitis

Purpose: To review the systemic and ocular manifestations of specific emergent viral infectious diseases relevant to the ophthalmologist with particular emphasis on anterior uveitis

Methods: Review of literature.

Results: Arboviral diseases are among the most important emergent and resurgent human infections, occurring mostly in tropical and subtropical zones, but appearing in virtually all regions of the world as a result of climate change, travel, and globalization. Arboviral infections are transmitted to humans by the bite of hematophagous arthropods, mainly mosquitoes. Systemic disease may range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. A wide variety of ocular manifestations, including uveitis, has been reported in association with these emerging viral diseases. Numerous viruses other than arboviruses also have been recently recognized as a potential cause of uveitis.

Conclusions: Proper clinical diagnosis of any emerging infectious disease is based on epidemiological data, history, systemic symptoms and signs, and the pattern of ocular involvement. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by detection of virus-specific DNA or antivirus antibodies in serum.     

Cataract Surgery in HIV Seropositive Patients: Long-Term Follow-Up

Purpose: To study epidemiology and clinical findings of cataract in HIV+ patients.

Methods: A total of 32 HIV+ patients, 11 with uveitis/retinitis before surgery and 21 without, mean follow-up 44.9 ± 36.6 months, and 114 HIV- patients, 57 with uveitis/retinitis before surgery and 57 without, were retrospectively compared.

Results: Visual acuity improved in all HIV+ patients (p < 0.001), who were younger (p = 0.01) and more frequently males (p = 0.027). HIV+ patients with uveitis prior surgery improved less (p = 0.046) than HIV- (p < 0.001); their anterior chamber inflammation was similar to baseline. Male sex (p = 0.005), younger age (p < 0.001), dyslipidaemia (p = 0.058), HBV+ (p = 0.037), and unilateral cataract (p = 0.001) were more frequent in HIV+ patients with senile cataract, but they showed the same postoperative course as HIV- patients.

Conclusion: Cataract surgery in HIV+ patients is safe and effective. Uveitis prior to surgery did not significantly affect the postoperative course. Systemic comorbidities are more frequent in HIV+ patients with senile cataract than in HIV- subjects.     

Follow-Up Study of Over Three Years of Patients with Uveitis after Cataract Phacoemulsification: Outcomes and Complications

Purpose: To evaluate the rate and onset of intraoperative and postoperative complications post-phacoemulsification. Methods: One hundred sixty-two eyes of 145 patients with uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification between 2006 and 2009 were identified through surgical record review. Fifty-nine eyes of 46 patients met the inclusion criteria. Hazard ratio (HR) and Kaplan-Meier survival probability were calculated for each class of uveitis. Results: Macular edema (ME) resulted to be associated to chronic postoperative inflammation (r?=?0.6; p?=?0.00) and mostly related to patients who presented more than one postoperative relapse/year (r?=?0.2; p?=?0.02). Fuchs uveitis resulted to be a risk factor for posterior capsule opacification (PCO) (HR 3.36 IC95%1.0-10.5; p?=?0.03). Hypotony and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) were detected in the anterior uveitis group (0.02 EY). Conclusion: The HR to develop ME was significantly related to chronic anterior uveitis. PCO and elevated IOP are most frequent in Fuchs uveitis. The postoperative visual acuity result was good among all the uveitis groups.     

Instrument-based Tests for Measuring Anterior Chamber Cells in Uveitis: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

New instrument-based techniques for anterior chamber (AC) cell counting can offer automation and objectivity above clinician assessment. This review aims to identify such instruments and its correlation with clinician estimates.     

Complications in Intermediate Uveitis: Prevalence,Time of Onset,and Effects on Vision in Short-Term and Long-Term Follow-Up

Purpose: To study the prevalence and time of onset of ocular complications in intermediate uveitis (IU) and to assess their effects on visual outcome in short-term and long-term follow-up.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with IU who had a minimal follow-up of one year.

Results: 96 patients (174 eyes, 70% females) were included with a mean age at presentation of 30 years. Children constituted 38% of all patients. Mean follow- up was 64.9 months. Pars planitis was the most common form followed by sarcoidosis and multiple sclerosis. Cystoid macular edema (CME), cataract, epiretinal membrane and posterior synechiae were the most prevalent complications. Posterior synechiae, band keratopathy, cataract and papillitis at presentation were associated with worse presenting visual acuity (VA). Of the late-onset complications, glaucoma/ocular hypertension (OHT) was the most significantly associated with worse long-term VA. Most sight-threatening complications (namely CME and glaucoma) were diagnosed at presentation while late complications predominantly affected the posterior segment and included among others peripheral retinal elevations, vasoproliferative tumors, and vitreous hemorrhage. Median LogMAR VA improved at short-term and long-term follow-up, from 0.2 to 0.1 (p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed significant VA improvement for eyes with all the different complications except for eyes with glaucoma/OHT.

Conclusion: IU is a chronic low-grade uveitis that may be associated with protean early and late complications of the anterior or posterior segments or both. Optimal treatment regimens are imperative for the strict control of inflammation and proper management of complications thus allowing a favorable long-term prognosis.     

NA:YAG激光虹膜切除术治疗闭角型青光眼201例临床观察

目的评价NA：YAG激光虹膜切除术治疗原发性闭角型青光眼和葡萄膜炎继发青光眼的临床疗效。方法回顾分析192例219眼原发性闭角型青光眼和9例葡萄膜炎继发青光眼，接受NA：YAG激光虹膜切除术后的临床效果，随诊16—46月。结果激光切孔一次成功205眼（占89e），激光能量在11—17．1mJ，67％病例在22—84Mj，击射次数2-33次。葡萄膜炎继发青光眼9眼均二次激光后虹膜孔通畅。95．61％术后眼压正常，视野无变化，术后早期一过性眼压升高占34％，术中出血占36％，房角色素增加占47％，1例术后28月接受小量切除术，8例术后需配合使用降眼压药物控制眼压。结论NA：YAG激光虹膜切除术是一种治疗闭角型青光眼的安全有效的方法。术前掌握适应症，把握手术时机，充分的术前准备是手术成功的关键。     

The natural history of uveitis

Summary Inflammatory diseases of the eye were known to the ancients, but only recently have the underlying mechanisms to this problem become better defined. During the middle portion of this century, most cases of uveitis thought to be caused by infectious agents, such as those responsible for syphilis and tuberculosis. Since then, it has become clear that endogenous mechanisms of immunomodulation play an important role in these disorders, which along with environmental and genetic factors make up an important triad. Animals studies have indicated the pivotal role of the T-cell in many of these disorders. The development of T-cell lines has helped to further delineate cell to cell interactions that occur during an ocular inflammatory event. The presence in the eye of uveitogenic antigens raises the strong possibility of autoimmune driven processes as well, similar to what is seen in the animal models. The better understanding of ocular inflammatory mechanisms has led to improved therapeutic strategies, including Sandimmune, and more recently Cyclosporine G, a related compound that may be less nephrotoxic. Newer therapeutic strategies will focus on even more novel modes of immunomodulation, probably without the use of medications.     

MMP-2、TIMP-2在内毒素诱导性葡萄膜炎中的表达

目的　探讨基质金属蛋白酶 2 (MMP 2 )及其组织型抑制剂 (TIMP 2 )在内毒素诱导性葡萄膜炎 (EIU)模型中的表达及意义。方法　 2 0 0 μg伤寒杆菌内毒素注射于SD大鼠双后足垫 ,建立EIU模型。用免疫组织化学方法检测MMP 2、TIMP 2在内毒素注射后不同时间点 (0、 6、 12、 18、 2 4、 4 8、 72、 96h和 7d)的表达。结果　内毒素注射后 6h开始出现炎症 ,于 2 4h炎症达到高峰 ,以后逐渐减轻 ,7d时基本消退。虹膜、睫状体的上皮细胞和渗出的炎性细胞表达MMP 2和TIMP 2。MMP 2在 6h表达开始增高 ,18～ 2 4h达高峰 ,以后逐渐下降。TIMP 2于 12h出现表达 ,4 8h达高峰 ,以后逐渐下降。TIMP 2和MMP 2平均吸光度值的比值与炎症程度呈负相关。结论　MMP 2是与炎症反应相关的调节因子 ,其过量表达参与葡萄膜炎的发病。减低MMP 2的活性或降低MMP 2 /TIMP 2的比值可能为治疗葡萄膜炎的新思路。