ABSTRACT
Purpose: TO report the corneal manifestations in patients with COVID?19?associated rhino?orbito?cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational, and record?based analysis of patients of ROCM with corneal involvement. Results: A total of 220 patients were diagnosed with ROCM over a period of 3 months. Thirty?two patients had developed corneal manifestations. The mean age at diagnosis was 52.84 ± 12.8 years. The associated risk factors were systemic mucormycosis, uncontrolled diabetes, recent COVID?19 infection, and injudicious use of systemic steroids. Twenty?nine patients were known diabetics, 32 had recent COVID?19 infection, and 13 gave a history of injudicious use of steroids. The right eye (RE) was affected in nine patients, the left eye (LE) in 20 patients, and both eyes in three patients. Nine patients had a round?oval corneal ulcer. One patient each had a perforated corneal ulcer with uveal prolapse, sealed perforated corneal ulcer, spontaneously healed limbal perforation, diffuse corneal haze with hyphemia, panophthalmitis, diffuse corneal stromal abscess, limbal ischemia, anterior uveitis with posterior synechiae, inferior corneal facet, and filamentary keratitis. Three patients each had a corneal melt and inferior conjunctival xerosis with chemosis. Orbital exenteration was performed in six patients. Five patients with corneal ulcers healed. Topical eye drops of amphotericin (0.5 mg/ ml) cycloplegic, antiglaucoma medications, and lubricant eye drops were started along with systemic antifungals. Conclusion: Central corneal ulcer was the most common manifestation of mucormycosis. A concentration as low as 0.5 mg/ml of amphotericin eye drops was effective in the treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) seems the most common predisposing factor for rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). This study aimed to study the impact of DM on the severity of COVID-19-associated ROCM (CAM). Methods:?This was a retrospective analytical study performed over a period of 3 months to assess the impact of DM on the severity of CAM in 100 patients and association of clinical correlates of DM with severity of CAM. Statistical analysis:?The data collected using the study tools were converted into a computer-based spreadsheet and analyzed. The statistical analysis comprised a descriptive analysis that involved calculating means, standard deviations, and proportions. For calculating the significance of the difference of mean between two groups, Student's t-test was applied. In addition, chi-square test (or Fisher's t-test if applicable) was applied to study the significance of association of clinical correlates of DM with severity of CAM for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. Results:?The prevalence of DM was 67%. The average presenting blood sugar level was 245.9?±?99.86?mg%. Glycated hemoglobin level between 4.5 and 6.5% was observed in 57 patients and over 6.5% in 43 subjects. A high body mass index (BMI) of 25 and above was noted in 52 patients. A significantly higher level of presenting blood sugar and a longer duration of hospital stay was noted in patients having stage 3b or higher (p?<?0.05) when compared with those having stage 3a or below. No significant correlation was observed in patients in stage 3a or below and those presenting with stage 3b or higher in terms of BMI, waist to hip ratio, or total cholesterol levels. There was a strong correlation between blood sugar level at presentation, severity of DM with the severity of ROCM, and a strong inverse correlation noted between HDL level and severity of ROCM. Conclusion:?A poor metabolic control is associated with a higher risk of a severe disease with intracranial involvement.
ABSTRACT
Objectives?Individuals affected with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increased enormously in northern India during the second wave of the novel coronavirus disease. This study determined the demographic and clinical profile including the risk factors in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in northern India. Materials and Methods?This is a descriptive study involving patients admitted with COVID-19-associated ROCM and were managed from May 2021 to 20th July 2021. Statistical Analysis?The data was analyzed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 20, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States) software and Microsoft Excel (Version 16.49). The chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare various outcomes. A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results?One hundred and seventeen (117) patients (males: 70 [59.8%], females:47 [40.2%]) with the average age of 51.85?±?12.80 years presented with orbital involvement. Diabetes mellitus was noted in 100 (86.2%) patients. Of the available data from the records, oxygen supplementation for the management of COVID-19 was received by 37/108 (34.3%) patients for a median average duration of 11 days. Forty-eight patients of one-hundred-seventeen (60%) patients were treated with corticosteroids with a median duration of steroid administration being 10 days. The duration between onset of symptoms related to mucormycosis and diagnosis of COVID-19 was 0 to 75 days for 48 patients. Intravenous amphotericin B was administered in all cases. External sinonasal debridement was performed in 90 of 114 (78.9%) patients, retrobulbar amphotericin B injection was administered in 56 of 117 (47.9%), and orbital exenteration was performed in 17 of 117 (14.5%) of cases. Conclusion?Administration of corticosteroids and diabetes mellitus seem to be the major underlying causes for the development of COVID-19-associated ROCM. Prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary management approach are essential for a reduction in mortality.