Physical, Psychological and Social Symptoms, Activity and Education of Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Receiving Maintenance Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: This study was to identify the physical, psychological and social symptoms of ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) children and adolescents receiving maintenance chemotherapy to build a basic data set to produce effective nursing intervention and ultimately help their early return to school and social adaptation. METHODS: Fifty ALL children and adolescents between 4 and 18, who were receiving maintenance chemotherapy were surveyed on days 2, 7, and 28. For younger children, between the age of 4 and the 3rd year in elementary school, their primary caregivers answered the survey and those between the 4th year in elementary school and the age of 18 answered the survey themselves. RESULTS: During maintenance chemotherapy, ALL children and adolescents experience diverse physical, psychological and social symptoms. On days 7 and 28, physical and social symptoms were greater than physical symptoms. Physical symptoms were greatest on day 2 and the most psychological and social symptoms were observed on day 7. During the maintenance chemotherapy period, 40% of the children and adolescents could not attend regular educational institutions. CONCLUSION: Since each point in the maintenance chemotherapy period shows different symptomatic characteristics, nursing intervention can be provided appropriately for each specific point to help the patients' social adaptation and early return to school.

The Results of Nation-Wide Registry of Age-related Macular Degeneration in Korea

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.

The Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy With Verteporfin for Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy: Retrospective Multi-Center Case Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Korean patients. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were treated with PDT for PCV and followed up for more than 6 months were collected from 14 hospitals around the country. The changes in the best corrected visual acuity, angiographic outcome, retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and adverse effects of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty six patients (86 eyes) were recruited (male: 75.6%, age: 65.9+/-8.3 years, mean follow-up: 14.8+/-10.2 months). The mean logMAR visual acuity at baseline was 0.55+/-0.32 and did not show any statistically significant difference from the final mean logMAR visual acuity (0.53+/-0.54) (p=0.639). The mean treatment session number of PDT was 2+/-1.2. Visual acuity stabilized or improved in 70.9% of patients. Visual acuity improved by more than 2 lines in 33 eyes (38.4%) and worsened by more than 2 lines in 21 eyes (24.4%) of patients. Vascular leakage decreased in 62.5% of patients in fluorescein angiography and polypoidal lesions disappeared or were reduced in 57.3% of patients in indocyanine green angiography. There was no systemic adverse effect of PDT, but increased subretinal hemorrhage after PDT occurred in 10 eyes (11.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is safe and effective for preserving visual acuity and reducing vascular leakage and retinal thickness.

Photodynamic Therapy for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Multicenter Study of 65 Cases

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopahty (CSC). METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. We collected demographic and ophthalmic data for patients with chronic CSC who were treated with PDT from 16 institutions in Korea. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ophthalmoscopic finding and optical coherence tomography at baseline and follow-up visits were compared longitudinally. RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes of 65 patients were recruited. Males (51 patients, 78.5%) outnumbered females (14 patients, 21.5%). The mean age was 46.4+/-10.0 years of age (28~69). By 1 month, mean BCVA improved from 0.47 to 0.37 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) (P <0.01). This BCVA increased throughout 6 months. Subretinal fluid resolved partially or completely in 89.1% of the patients. Central macular thickness (CMT) decreased from 303.4 to 168.7 micrometer. The amount of change in CMT after PDT was correlated to the female sex and prePDT CMT. At 3 months after PDT, the amount of change in BCVA was significantly related to that of change of CMT (p <0.05). Adverse events were reported in 4 cases, however, most were mild. CONCLUSIONS: PDT was effective and safe for treating chronic CSC.

Subretinal Hemorrhage After Photodynamic Therapy for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of subretinal hemorrhage after photodynamic therapy in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for 267 eyes of 243 patients who had undergone PDT for the treatment of ARMD between January 2005 and December 2006. Best corrected visual acuity, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and ICG angiography were performed before and after treatment. We followed up the patients at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after treatment and at 3-month intervals thereafter. RESULTS: Postoperative subretinal hemorrhage was seen in 36 (13.4%) of 267 eyes. The pretreatment and post-treatment mean visual acuities were logMAR 0.80 and logMAR 1.05 respectively, representing a decrease of 2.05 lines. On FAG, two eyes were predominantly classic, four eyes were minimally classic, and 30 eyes were occult. The laser irradiation spot size was under 3,000 micrometer in one case and from 3,000 micrometer to 5,000 micrometer in 19 cases and over 5,000 micrometer in 16 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Subretinal hemorrhage after PDT for ARMD can be a common complication in patients who have been treated for larger irradiation spot sizes and for pigment epithelial detachment (PED), so doctors should be aware of the risk of serious hemorrhagic complications in such situations.

Multifocal Electroretinogram before and after Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

PURPOSE: To assess macular function before and after vitrectomy and membrane removal in epiretinal membranes by means of multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG). METHODS: The mfERGs (RETIscan(R), Roland, Germany) of 28 consecutive patients (28 eyes) with idiopathic epiretinal membranes were recorded before epiretinal membrane surgery and 3 to 6 months after surgery. The average retinal response density and implicit time of each local response were estimated as anatomic macular areas corresponding roughly to 5 rings. Preoperative and postoperative responses of mfERG were compared. The correlation of the change of retinal response density and postoperative macular configuration on optical coherent tomography (OCT) was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The postoperative value of P1 amplitude and implicit time were not statistically correlated with the preoperative value (p>0.05). There were no significant correlations between the changes of rings 1 and 2 with regard to the retinal response density of the mfERGs and visual acuity. There was no significant correlation between the change of retinal response density and postoperative macular configuration according to OCT. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mfERGs does not seem useful for predicting clinical prognosis after epiretinal membrane surgery. Further studies of influence of internal limiting membrane removal on mfERG response should be conducted.

A Case of Posterior Capsule Rupture after Blunt Ocular Trauma in a Child

PURPOSE: To report a case of isolated posterior capsule rupture (PCR) with cataract after blunt ocular trauma in a child. METHODS: A 6-year-old female visited our institution complaining of blurred vision (best corrected visual acuity: counting fingers at 30 cm) in the left eye three months after blunt ocular trauma. Slitlamp examination showed the cataract and PCR with intact anterior capsule. Removal of the cataract was approached via a scleral tunnel incision. Anterior vitrectomy was performed and a foldable intraocular lens (IOL) was inserted in the sulcus. RESULTS: Visual acuity was improved to 0.7 two days after the surgery and further improved to 1.0 at two months. CONCLUSIONS: An isolated PCR with cataract is a rare complication of blunt ocular trauma. We present a case of PCR after blunt ocular injury as well as a surgical procedure to safely remove the cataract via an anterior approach and implantation of the IOL in the sulcus.

Purtscher-like Retinopathy after Scleral Fixation of IOL

PURPOSE: We report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy following the removal of a dislocated IOL and scleral fixation of a new IOL. METHODS: A 60-year-old man presented with sudden visual loss of the right eye. An ophthalmologic examination revealed IOL dislocation. He underwent removal of the dislocated IOL and scleral fixation of the new IOL. Visual acuity was 0.02 in the right eye on the second postoperative day. A fundus examination and fluorescein angiography were performed. RESULTS: A peripapillary multiple cotton wool spot, pale macula and cherry red spot were noted in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography showed arteriolar obstruction around the macula and leakage of the mild arteriolar fluorescein dye. At one month follow-up, macular edema, hemorrhage and peripapillary cotton wool spots were increased. CONCLUSIONS: This case of Purtscher-like retinopathy following scleral fixation of the IOL did not have any obvious etiologic cause.

Four Cases of Morning Glory Syndrome

Morning glory syndrome is a rare congenital clinical entity that results from abnormal optic nerve development. In 1970, Kindler reported on ten patients having this anomaly and coined the term "morning glory syndrome" because of its similarity to the flower. The ophthalmoscopic picture is characterized by an enlarged pink excavated optic disk containing a mass of white tissue at its center, surrounding the disk is a wide, grey, elevated annulus of chorioretinal pigment disturbance. The retinal vessels appear as multiple radially oriented branches near the edge of the disk. Vision is usually markedly reduced. We experienced four cases of morning glory syndrome demonstrating various ophthalmoscopic and fluorescein angiographic features.