ABSTRACT
Amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous free-living protozoa encountered in water and soil. They frequently cause sight-threatening keratitis. Report of the three first cases diagnosed at the laboratory of Parasitology of Sousse Hospital. [Tunisia]. Our study concerned three lens-wearing female patients. aged 17, 20 and 29 years respectively. The patients originate from central Tunisia and presented with unilateral [2 cases] or bilateral [one case] keratitis. Diagnosis was made by demonstrating Acanthamoeba trophozoites and/or cysts on direct examination and/or culture [in agar-Escherichia coli medium] of contact lenses and/or lenses' solution. Direct examination of corneal swabs was negative in three cases but culture was positive in one. The three patients were treated with hexamidine and neomycine eye-drops for three months. Treatment led to scarring of lesions with however sequellar opacities that was minor to moderate in two cases and consisted of a central leucoma with a poor visual outcome in the last case. The need for systematic research of amoeba in lenses wearing patients with keratitis is emphasized
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Acanthamoeba , Lenses , Benzamides , NeomycinABSTRACT
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive heredity skin disorder characterised by a defective DNA repair after skin exposure to UV light. Clinical features include skin lesions, with a high incidence of neoplasms, ocular and neurologic manifestations. Ocular signs are severe photophobia, conjunctivitis, corneal scarring, conjunctival noevi, conjunctival and eyelids neoplasms. A retrospective study of 5 cases of xeroderma pigmentosum including children aged 4 to 11 years old were carried out complications which included squamous cell carcinoma and ectropion by lower eyelid retraction were treated surgically. The authors present the ocular manifestations in xeroderma pigmentosum, discuss their treatment and prognosis which depends mainly on recurretlces