Helicobacter pylori as a potential target for the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the treatment of Helicobacter pylori gastric infection and changes in best-corrected visual acuity and macular detachment in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. METHODS: Seventeen patients diagnosed with central serous chorioretinopathy were examined for gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori using the urease test and gastric biopsy. Helicobacter pylory-positive patients were treated with the appropriate medication. The response to therapy was monitored by evaluating the best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography. The data were analyzed using Student's t-test before and after treatment. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (15 eyes) aged 30-56 years (mean 43.4 ± 8.3 years) were positive for Helicobacter pylori. Most of the positive patients had gastric symptoms (78.5%); one had bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy. The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 20/98 (logMAR = 0.53 ± 0.28). Three months after starting treatment with antibiotics, the serous detachment had resolved in 14 of 15 eyes, but two cases required laser treatment. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 27 months. The mean final best-corrected visual acuity differed significantly from baseline. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that Helicobacter pylori infection may be present in many chronic central serous chorioretinopathy patients and that treatment for the infection may have a favorable effect on the outcome of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. Due to the possibility of the spontaneous regression of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy and the high prevalence of the infection in the general population, prospective and masked clinical trials are necessary to confirm that treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection may benefit patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

Estudo experimental da inibição da proliferação vitreorretiniana pelo uso da hiperecina / Experimental study of vitreoretinal proliferation inhibition by the use of hypericin

OBJETIVOS: Induzir a produção de membranas vitreorretinianas em modelo de trauma ocular animal. Avaliar a inibição do desenvolvimento da proliferação vitreorretiniana (PVR) com o uso de hiperecina. MÉTODOS: Estudo Experimental. Foram utilizados 19 coelhos machos pigmentados adultos com peso entre 2.000 e 3.000 gramas. Todos submetidos a modelo de trauma com dispase associada à diatermia da retina para indução de membranas de PVR. Separados randomicamente para receberem hiperecina (10 µM em 0,1 ml) ou solução salina (0,1 ml) como placebo. Avaliados clinicamente no sétimo, décimo quarto, vigésimo primeiro e vigésimo oitavo dias de pós-operatório com oftalmoscopia indireta e retinografia colorida digitalizada. O grau de PVR foi classificado em estágios (de 0 a 7) segundo Hida e colaboradores. RESULTADOS: A formação de membranas esteve presente em 79 por cento dos olhos, sendo 100 por cento nos olhos do grupo placebo e 60 por cento nos olhos do grupo tratamento (hiperecina). A comparação entre as médias dos estágios de PVR entre os grupos mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa, com valor p=0,0321 pelo teste Wilcoxon. CONCLUSÕES: O modelo de trauma com uso de dispase e diatermia da retina produz membranas vitreorretinianas. A hiperecina mostrou-se eficaz na diminuição do aparecimento e progressão do PVR.

PURPOSE: To produce proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in an animal ocular trauma model. To evaluate the inhibition of (PVR) emergence and progression by hypericin. METHODS: Experimental Study. Nineteen pigmented male adult rabbits weighing between 2,000 and 3,000 grams were used in this study. All of them were submitted to trauma model with dispase and retinal diathermy to induce PVR membranes formation. They were randomly assigned to receive hypericin (10 µM in 0.1 ml) or saline solution (0.1 ml) as placebo. They were evaluated clinically in the seventh, fourteenth, twenty-first and twenty-eighth postoperative days with indirect ophthalmoscopy and digital color retinography. The PVR degree was classified according to Hida (0 to 7). RESULTS: Membranes formation was present in 79 percent of the eyes; being 100 percent in the eyes of placebo group and 60 percent in the eyes of treatment group (hypericin). The comparison between PVR phases averages within the groups showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups, with a p value of 0.0321 for Wilcoxon test. CONCLUSIONS: The trauma model with dispase and retinal diathermy produces vitreoretinal membranes. Hypericin was considered effective in PVR emergence and progression decrease.

Tratamento clínico da neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral com albendazol / Clinical treatment of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis with albendazole

OBJETIVO: Descrever a evolução de uma série de casos de neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral (NSDU) tratados com albendazol. MÉTODOS: Relato de série de casos intervencionista. Os autores desenvolveram protocolo de ensaio clínico não controlado, para estudar a evolução clínica de casos de neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral tratados com albendazol. Segundo os critérios do protocolo, foram selecionados seis pacientes até o momento desta publicação, que serão descritos separadamente. RESULTADOS: Dos seis pacientes estudados, quatro apresentavam larva. Todos os seis pacientes tratados com a droga anti-helmíntica apresentaram melhora da acuidade visual e das lesões coriorretinianas multifocais. As larvas identificadas nos pacientes foram inativadas com o tratamento. Nenhum efeito colateral foi observado. CONCLUSÕES: A terapia anti-helmíntica com albendazol parece ser benéfica e segura para pacientes com neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral. Mais estudos são necessários para avaliar a eficácia do albendazol no tratamento da neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral.

PURPOSE: To describe the evolution of a series of cases of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) treated with albendazole. METHODS: Interventional case series. The authors developed a non-randomized clinical trial protocol to investigate the clinical evolution of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis cases treated with albendazole. According to protocol criteria up to now, six patients were selected that will be described separately. RESULTS: Of the six studied patients, four presented the worm. All six patients treated with the antiparasitic drug showed improvement of visual acuity and of chorioretinal scars. During the weeks of treatment, evidence of worm inactivation was documented for the four patients with visible worms. No adverse drug side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The antiparasitic drug albendazole seems to be beneficial and safe in patients with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis. More studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of albendazole in the treatment of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis.