Ophthalmic manifestations of 107 cases with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count syndrome

To present various ophthalmologic disorders in a clinical series of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count [HELLP] syndrome cases. This is a prospective clinical study performed between 2002 and 2005. One hundred seven HELLP patients attended in either Departments of Ophthalmology or Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey were evaluated. Mean age was 25.5 [22-36 years]. Mean levels were 2.5 gravidity, 1.3 parity, 55,200/mm3 platelet counts, 308.7 U/l aspartate transaminase, 255.4 U/l alanine transaminase, and 1711.6 U/I lactate dehydrogenase. Four patients died [3.7%] despite the proper treatments. Cortical blindness was observed in 3 cases [2.7%], serous retinal detachments in 4 [3.7%], and mild hypertension changes in 18 [16%]. Ophthalmic complications are possible during and after this syndrome. Almost all ophthalmologic changes recover after delivery by cesarean section, nevertheless, it is essential that ophthalmologists should be aware of retinal disorders when this fatal complication of pregnancy is encountered

Status of the tear film in trachoma

To evaluate the value and usefulness of the clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests in trachoma, forty three patients [86 eyes] with trachoma cicatrized, trachoma trichiasis and corneal opacities in accordance with the WHO-1987 grading system, Were evaluated for Schirmer's test, tear osmolarity and tear lysozyme level. In the 86 eyes [43 patients] of normal eyes, tear fluid osmolarity was 303.4 +/- 9.1 mOsm.IL. In 86 eyes [43 patients] of trachomatous cases it was 311.9 +/- 12.3 mOsm./L. Tear lysozyme level noted in trachomatous cases was 1.68 +/- 0.81 mg/ml. This value was around normal range [1.5-2.5 mg/mi]. The average value of the Schirmer's test in normal cases was 15.1 +/- 8.9 mm/5 mm., whereas in trachomatous cases it was 11.9 +/- 6.8 mm/5 mm. Because of being correlate decreased Schirmer's test and tear osmolarity in trachomatous cases, it is assumed that the status of tear fluid may only be assessed by tear film osmolarity measurements