ABSTRACT
Tamoxifen-induced ocular complications including cataracts, keratopathies, retinopathy, impaired visual acuity, ocular irritation, optical neuritis, and retinal vein occlusion are uncommonly reported in the literature. Herein, we report on a premenopausal patient with right-side breast carcinoma who received adjuvant tamoxifen therapy (20 mg/day) for 1.5 years and developed sudden visual loss. Fundal examination revealed an obstruction in the branch of the retinal vein. The diagnosis was confirmed by fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography. Thus, tamoxifen was switched to an aromatase inhibitor. Tamoxifen-induced ocular complications should be kept in mind when visual symptoms are seen in patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy. In such cases, a complete ocular examination should be performed
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of oxidant/antioxidant status and protein oxidation in the development of age-related macular degeneration. METHOD: The activities of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and the levels of serum malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, glutathione and vitamin C were measured in 25 patients with age-related macular degeneration and 25 control subjects without age-related macular degeneration. RESULT: The malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein product levels in the serum were significantly higher in the age-related macular degeneration patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). The superoxide dismutase activity in the serum was significantly lower in the age-related macular degeneration patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). The levels of vitamin C and glutathione and the activity of glutathione peroxidase in the serum were unchanged between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that decreased effectiveness of the antioxidant defense system and increased oxidative stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration.