Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus exacerbated by COVID-19–induced inflammation is the risk factor for COVID-19–associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis: A matched pair case–control study

Purpose: Amidst the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, India experienced an epidemic of COVID-19–associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and elucidate the risk factors for developing COVID-19–associated ROCM, comparing the risk factors among COVID-19 patients with and without ROCM. Methods: This case–control study included all COVID-19–associated ROCM patients treated at our hospital from May 1 to July 30, 2021. Controls included age- and sex-matched COVID-19 patients without ROCM, who were treated during the same time (exact matching, in 1:2 ratio). Matched pair analysis using conditional logistic regression was performed to examine the association of various risk factors with the development of ROCM in COVID-19 patients. Results: The study included 69 patients with COVID-19–associated ROCM and 138 age- and gender-matched controls. Epidemiologically, COVID-19–associated ROCM predominantly affected males (59/69, 85%), in their early 50s (mean 52 years), with 48% (33/69) of patients being from medical resource-constrained settings. On multivariate conditional logistic regression, elevated serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.78), blood glucose (OR = 1.008, 95% CI: 1.003–1.013), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02–1.17) were associated with increased odds of developing COVID-19–associated ROCM. Patients with undetected diabetes mellitus with increasing HbA1c (OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.30–9.02) and blood glucose (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.005–1.03) (P = 0.02) had a higher probability of developing COVID-19–associated ROCM than patients with established DM. Conclusion: Uncontrolled DM evidenced by elevated HbA1c and blood glucose levels, exacerbated by COVID-19–induced proinflammatory state indicated by elevated CRP, is the principal independent risk factor for COVID-19–associated ROCM. Middle-aged males with undetected DM, from a resource-constraint setting, are particularly at risk.

Retinoblastoma in patients with regressed retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a well-known clinical entity in premature babies. We report two patients (1 and 2) with regressed ROP who later presented with retinoblastoma (RB). To the best of our knowledge, there is only one such report in the literature so far. Two unrelated patients 1 and 2, born at 32 weeks gestation were screened for ROP at 34 weeks gestation. This showed Zone II Stage II ROP which regressed by 38 weeks of gestation on follow-up. Both patients were lost to follow-up by 40 weeks of gestation. They presented at four years of age with white reflex in the eye. Patient 1 was found to have unilateral and patient 2 bilateral RB. The occurrence of RB in these patients with regressed ROP is probably coincidental.

Microalbuminuria and low hemoglobin as risk factors for the occurrence and increasing severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Aim: To assess the influence of urinary microalbuminuria and hemoglobin concentration on the occurrence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR), clinically significant macular edema (CSME) and hard exudate formation. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study carried out over a period of 2 years, type 2 diabetic patients seeking ocular evaluation for DR were assessed for presence and severity of DR, presence of hard exudates and CSME. Retinal findings were correlated to severity of microalbuminuria, hemoglobin concentration and other systemic risk factors using linear regression analysis. Results: Three hundred and six patients were included in the study. DR of any grade was seen in 132 (43%) patients, hard exudate formation in 93/306 (30.4%) patients, CSME in 50/306 (16.3%) patients and proliferative DR in 26/306 (8.5%) patients. Duration of diabetes (P <0.001), microalbuminuria (P <0.001) and low hemoglobin (P = 0.001) were found to be highly significant risk factors for the development and increasing severity of DR as well as for CSME and hard exudate formation. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria and low hemoglobin are strong predictors for DR, CSME and hard exudate formation in type 2 diabetics even after correcting for duration of diabetes and other systemic risk factors. Although not directly involved in the pathogenesis, microalbuminuria can help in identifying patients at risk for more severe diabetic eye disease. Microalbuminuria warrants intensive monitoring of both retinal and renal status. The hemoglobin levels should be monitored regularly in diabetic patients to detect and treat anemia, thereby reducing one risk factor for DR.

Optic nerve sheath decompression for visual loss in intracranial hypertension: Report from a tertiary care center in South India.

Aim: Severe visual loss is the only serious complication of intracranial hypertension secondary to idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and some cases of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Optic nerve sheath decompression (ONSD) has been shown to improve or stabilize visual function in patients with IIH, while its role in CVT is yet to be established. We report our experience with optic nerve sheath decompression for visual loss in IIH and CVT. Materials and Methods: In this prospective noncomparative, interventional study, 41 eyes of 21 patients with IIH and CVT and visual loss underwent ONSD. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual fields, pupillary light reflex, optic nerve sheath diameter on B-scan and resolution of papilledema which were evaluated preoperatively and at follow-up at four days, two weeks, one month, three months and final follow-up. In 7/41 eyes with absent light perception preoperatively, the functional outcome was analyzed separately. Results: Following ONSD BCVA and visual fields stabilized or improved in 32/34 (94%) eyes. Statistically significant improvement in BCVA, visual fields and pupillary light reflex occurred over the three month follow-up period. Surgical success was indicated by reduction in optic nerve diameter and papilledema resolution occurred in all patients. The outcome in the IIH and CVT groups was comparable. Four eyes with absent light perception showed marginal improvement in visual acuity. Four eyes had transient benign complications. Conclusion: Optic nerve sheath decompression is an effective and safe procedure to improve or stabilize vision in patients with visual loss caused by IIH and CVT.

Malignant atrophic papulosis. Report of a case with multiple ophthalmic findings.

Malignant atrophic papulosis is a rare and fatal condition with multiple organ involvement. We describe a patient with progressive ocular and dermatological findings.

Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. A retrospective analysis of clinical features and treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The conventional management of rhino-orbito-cerebral (ROC) mucormycosis includes control of metabolic abnormality, administration of amphotericin B and surgery that spans simple sinus clearance, radical debridement and orbital exenteration. Recent literature includes anecdotal descriptions of successful treatment with conservative management of involved orbits. We evaluated the clinical features and outcome of treatment for the different stages of ROC mucormycosis. METHOD: In this retrospective case series, 34 case records of patients with a histopathological diagnosis of ROC mucormycosis treated between 1992 and 2000 were reviewed. Three clinical stages and three treatment groups were identified. Patients with limited sino-nasal disease (Clinical stage I) underwent sino-nasal debridement (Treatment group A). Patients with limited rhino-orbital disease (Clinical stage II) underwent either sino-nasal debridement alone (Treatment group A) or orbital exenteration in addition to sino-nasal debridement (Treatment group B). Patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral disease (Clinical stage III) did not undergo any surgical procedure (Treatment group C). Thirty-three patients received intravenous amphotericin B. Outcome for each group was measured as "Treatment success" (disease free, stable patient with metabolic abnormality under control) and "Treatment failure" (progression of disease with worsening general condition or mortality due to the disease). RESULTS: Uncontrolled diabetes in 30 (88.2%) of 34 patients was the commonest underlying disease and 16 (53.3%) of 30 diabetics had ketoacidosis. Chronic renal failure (n = 4), hepatic disease (n = 3) and idiopathic thrombocytopenia (n = 1) were the other underlying diseases. Eleven patients had stage I disease, 16 patients had stage II disease and seven patients had stage III disease. All 11 patients with stage I disease received treatment A; of 16 patients with stage II disease, 7 received treatment A and the remaining with stage III disease received treatment B; 7 patients with stage II disease received treatment C. Ten of 11 patients (91%) with stage I disease had treatment success. In patients with stage II disease, 7 of 7 (100%) with treatment A and 1 of 9 (11.1%) with treatment B had treatment success. All seven patients with stage III disease had treatment failure. CONCLUSION: Debridement of the sinuses is necessary in all cases of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. Diagnosis in the early stage needs a high degree of suspicion. There is a definite role for retention of orbits in patients whose metabolic derangement is rapidly controlled and orbital involvement is non-progressive.