When Dermatomyositis Patient Has Blurring of Vision – What Goes Wrong?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis occurs predominantly in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) -infected patients. It was also reported in HIV-seronegative patients with systemic autoimmune disorder requiring systemic immunosuppression, organ or bone marrow transplantation, haematological or breast malignancy receiving chemotherapy, ocular diseases following intraocular or periocular corticosteroid injection, diabetes mellitus and Good syndrome. However, CMV retinitis in patients with concurrent dermatomyositis and malignancy has not been previously reported. It has not been reported in cancer other than haematological or breast malignancy, or in cancer patient prior to chemotherapy. We report a case of 40-year-old HIV-seronegative woman with underlying dermatomyositis and lung malignancy who developed right CMV retinitis which relapsed after recommencement of immunosuppressant. Both episodes of CMV retinitis were successfully treated after taken her immunocompromised state into consideration.

Health status of Orang Asli (aborigine) community in Pos Piah, Sungai Siput, Perak, Malaysia.

A study of health status of Orang Asli population (based on physical examination findings) was conducted in 4 villages in Pos Piah, Sungai Siput Perak, Malaysia. In all 356 individuals between 4 months-72 years old (178 males and 178 females) participated in this study. Poor general health status, physical and mental handicaps were seen in 7.8%, 0.3% and 0.3% of the population, respectively. About one-fifth of the population had dental caries. Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and hepatosplenomegaly were among the commonest abnormalities with the occurrence rates of 19.8%, 13.7% and 6.7%, respectively, being detected in the population. About one-fifth of the population showed signs suggestive of protein-energy deficiency; whilst less than 5% showed signs indicative of riboflavin, iodine and iron deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiency was the commonest nutritional deficiency identified in this community with almost 38.4% of them showing signs of the deficiency. The commonest skin infection was scabies.