Presentación atípica de molusco contagioso: compromiso ocular bilateral en paciente con VIH / Atypical presentation of molluscum contagiosum: bilateral ocular involvement in a patient with HIV

La infección por molusco contagioso (MC) en adultos se asocia frecuentemente a transmisión sexual y/o inmunodepresión, por ejemplo, por VIH. En este grupo, la manifestación clínica suele ser atípica. A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente con diagnóstico de VIH, bajo recuento de CD4 y carga viral elevada que consulta por múltiples MC en genitales, tronco, cara y ojos además de conjuntivitis en ojo derecho. Se mantuvo terapia antirretroviral (TARV) y se indicó tratamiento para conjuntivitis. La infección por MC en pacientes con VIH se asocia a etapas SIDA con un aumento de los casos a menor recuento de linfocitos CD4, generalmente menor a 200 cel/mL. La pobre respuesta inmune celular de estos pacientes explica su comportamiento clínico atípico. Este grupo presenta una mayor mortalidad que el de pacientes seropositivos sin MC, lo que se explica por la mayor inmunosupresión asociada. El diagnóstico es clínico, aunque podría verse entorpecido cuando hay compromiso ocular por la presencia de lesiones atípicas que hacen necesario considerar diversos diagnósticos diferenciales. El tratamiento es controversial y tiende a existir una baja respuesta y recidiva frente a terapias convencionales en pacientes con VIH cuando la inmunosupresión es marcada por el recuento CD4 muy bajo. La TARV pareciera ser la mejor alternativa para su tratamiento, sin embargo, es importante considerar posibles complicaciones asociadas, como la instauración de síndrome de restauración inmunológica una vez iniciada. Esto podría traducirse en lesiones oculares graves cuando existe compromiso en este órgano

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) infection in adults is frequently associated with sexual transmission and / or immunosuppression, for example by HIV. In this group, the clinical manifestation is usually atypical. Herein we present the case of a patient with a diagnosis of HIV, a low CD4 count and a high viral load who consulted for multiple MC in the genitals, trunk, face and eyes, as well as conjunctivitis in the right eye. Antiretrovitral therapy (ART) was maintained and treatment for conjunctivitis was indicated. MC infection in HIV patients is associated with AIDS stages with an increase in cases with a lower CD4 lymphocyte count, generally less than 200 cells / mL. The poor cellular immune response of these patients explains their atypical clinical behavior. This group presents a higher mortality than that of seropositive patients without MC, which is explained by the greater associated immunosuppression. The diagnosis is clinical, although it could be hampered when there is ocular compromise due to the presence of atypical lesions that make it necessary to consider various differential diagnoses. Treatment is controversial and there tends to be a poor response and relapse to conventional therapies in patients with HIV when immunosuppression is marked by a very low CD4 count. ART seems to be the best alternative for its. However, it is important to consider possible associated complications such as the onset of immune restoration syndrome once it has been started. This could translate into serious eye injuries when this organ is compromised

Bilateral disciform keratitis of presumed adenoviral etiology

Adenoviral conjunctivitis may lead to subepithelial corneal infiltrates as a late complication. Herein, we aim to present a 19-year-old healthy female, who developed bilateral disciform keratitis three weeks after suffering adenoviral conjunctivitis. She presented with widespread subepithelial corneal infiltrates in addition to central corneal edema with white distinct border resembling immune stromal ring, as well as Descemet's folds and keratic precipitates in the central area. Following topical corticosteroid and ganciclovir for 10 days, her condition improved. After 1 month, she had another episode. Short-term topical corticosteroids in addition to long-term topical cyclosporine and nonpreserved artificial tears were able to prevent further recurrences.

The prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis at the Clinical Hospital of the State University of Campinas, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: Viral conjunctivitis is a common, highly contagious disease that is often caused by an adenovirus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis by analyzing data from a prospective clinical study of 122 consecutively enrolled patients who were treated at the Clinical Hospital of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) after a clinical diagnosis of infectious conjunctivitis between November 2011 and June 2012. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate all cases of clinically diagnosed infectious conjunctivitis and based on the laboratory findings, the prevalence of adenoviral infections was determined. The incidence of subepithelial corneal infiltrates was also investigated. RESULTS: Of the 122 patients with acute infectious conjunctivitis included, 72 had positive polymerase chain reaction results for adenoviruses and 17 patients developed subepithelial corneal infiltrates (13.93%). CONCLUSIONS: The polymerase chain reaction revealed that the prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis was 59% in all patients who presented with a clinical diagnosis of infectious conjunctivitis from November 2011 to June 2012. The prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis in the study population was similar to its prevalence in other regions of the world.

Anti-adenoviral Effects of Human Cationic Antimicrobial Protein-18/LL-37, an Antimicrobial Peptide, by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: Antimicrobial peptides have an important role in self-protection of the ocular surface. Human cationic antimicrobial protein (hCAP)-18 is a linear, alpha-helical peptide that consists of a conserved pro-sequence called a cathelin-like domain and a C-terminal peptide named LL-37. We investigated the in vitro anti-adenoviral activity of hCAP-18/LL-37 in several adenovirus types, inducing keratoconjunctivitis. METHODS: A549 cells were used for viral cell culture, and human adenovirus (HAdV) types 3 (HAdV3, species B), 4 (species E), 8, 19a, and 37 (species D) were used. The cytotoxicity of LL-37 was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay to obtain 50% cytotoxic concentration. After pretreatment of A549 cells with serial dilutions of LL-37 for 24 hours, adenovirus was cultured for seven days, and adenoviral DNA was quantitatively measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The 50% effective concentration of LL-37 obtained by real-time PCR ranged between 118 and 270 microM. LL-37 showed a significant inhibitory effect on adenoviral proliferation in all adenovirus types except HAdV4 in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: LL-37 has significant inhibitory activity against HAdV3, 8, and 19, which induce keratoconjunctivitis. These results indicate that hCAP-18/LL-37 may be a possible candidate for the treatment of HAdV keratoconjunctivitis.

Delayed Epithelial Ingrowth Caused by Viral Conjunctivitis after LASIK

To report a patient who presented with epithelial ingrowth caused by viral keratoconjunctivitis 3 months after LASIK surgery. A 41-year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity in the right eye, which had developed about 3 weeks before. He had undergone LASIK surgery 3 months prior without complications. Two months after the surgery, he was treated for viral conjunctivitis. During the treatment period, filamentary keratitis developed, and a therapeutic bandage contact lens was applied for 2 weeks. Upon presentation, examination revealed a corrected visual acuity of 20/100 and irregular epithelial sheets under the edematous flap. The flap was lifted, and the in-grown epithelium was removed. The flap was repositioned with double continuous 10-0 nylon sutures. Post-operatively, the patient developed a mild diffuse lamellar keratitis that resolved rapidly with topical corticosteroid treatment. At 2 months, the corrected visual acuity was 20/20 without interface opacities. As the patient showed no complications prior to viral conjunctivitis, we suspect that the viral infection caused edema of the corneal flap, which caused epithelial ingrowth under the flap. Patients who have viral conjunctivitis after LASIK surgery should be examined carefully and managed with consideration of flap complications.