Optical coherence tomography angiography artifactual choroidal neovascularization in optic disc pit maculopathy / Artefato de neovascularização de coroide na angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica em pit de disco óptico

ABSTRACT This case report describes a 19-year-old Caucasian man presented with decreased visual acuity in the right eye for 3 months. Dilated funds exam revealed optic disk pit associated with serous macular detachment. Optical coherence tomography identified communication between the optic disk pit and the macular serous detachment, and optical coherence tomography angiography displayed a subfoveal area suggestive of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. However, there was no evidence of leakage in the fluorescein angiogram and no evidence of choroidal neovascularization in optical coherence tomography in the area corresponding to the suspicious subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. The patient underwent 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy in the right eye. Six weeks after surgery, multimodal imaging was repeated and there was near-complete resorption of the subretinal fluid. Optical coherence tomography angiography signal superimposed on optical coherence tomography B-scan also demonstrated normal choriocapillaris signal throughout the macula. In conclusion, optical coherence tomography angiography may produce artifacts in optic disk pit maculopathy that simulate choroidal neovascularization.

RESUMO O presente estudo relatou o caso de um homem caucasiano de 19 anos com diminuição da acuidade visual no olho direito há 3 meses. Na fundoscopia havia um pit de papila associado ao descolamento seroso macular. A tomografia de coerência óptica identificou uma comunicação entre o pit e o descolamento seroso e a angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica demonstrou uma área subfoveal sugestiva de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana. No entanto, não houve evidência de vazamento na angiofluoresceínografia com contraste e nem de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana na tomografia de coerência óptica na área suspeita. O paciente foi submetido a vitrectomia pars plana 23-gauge no olho direito. Seis semanas após a cirurgia, os exames foram repetidos e houve reabsorção quase completa do líquido sub-retiniano. O sinal da angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica sobreposto à tomografia de coerência óptica B-scan era normal na região da mácula. Em conclusão, a angiografia por tomografia de coerência óptica pode produzir artefatos em maculopatia secundária a pit de papila que simulam uma membrana neovascular sub-retiniana.

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus and varicella zoster virus vasculopathy / Herpes zoster ophthalmicus e vasculopatia por vírus varicella zoster

ABSTRACT Herpes zoster (HZ) corresponds to the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV). Among adults, the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve is one of the most common sites of involvement. Vasculopathy caused by HZ is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, affecting structures such as the brain, which can lead to stroke. In this review, we analyzed the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the vascular involvement of VZV, focusing on the peculiarities of its association with ocular HZ. A review of the available literature indicated that ocular involvement of HZ was a risk factor for vasculopathy after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, indicators of metabolic syndrome, and vascular and heart diseases. Considering the severity of this complication, vascular disease mediated by VZV requires early diagnosis and aggressive treatment. Finally, the anti-HZ vaccine has been recommended as a prophylactic measure in the elderly, but it should be used with caution in immunocompromised individuals.

RESUMO Herpes zoster (HZ) corresponde à reativação do vírus varicela zoster (VVZ) e, entre os adultos, o envolvimento da divisão oftálmica do nervo trigêmeo é um dos locais mais comuns A vasculopatia associada ao HZ é uma complicação dotada de grande morbimortalidade e afeta diferentes estruturas, favorecendo, inclusive o acidente vascular cerebral. Nesta revisão analisamos aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos da vasculopatia mediada pelo VZV, bem como as peculiaridades relacionadas com o HZ ocular. De acordo com dados disponíveis na literatura, o acometimento ocular pelo HZ mostrou ser um fator de risco para vasculopatia após se ajustar para idade, sexo, índice de massa corporal, tabagismo, indicadores da síndrome metabólica, doença vascular e cardiopatias. Em face da gravidade dessa complicação, a doença vascular mediada pelo VZV requer diagnóstico precoce e tratamento agressivo. A vacina anti-HZ tem sido recomendada profilaticamente em idosos, mas deve ser usada com cautela em indivíduos imunocomprometidos.

Effects of sildenafil on autonomic nervous function during sleep in obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of sildenafil on the autonomic nervous system in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: Thirteen male patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (mean age 43±10 years with a mean body mass index of 26.7±1.9 kg/m²) received a single 50-mg dose of sildenafil or a placebo at bedtime. All-night polysomnography and heart rate variability were recorded. Frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability was performed for the central five-minute sample of the longest uninterrupted interval of slow wave and rapid eye movement sleep, as well as for one-minute samples during apnea and during slow wave and rapid eye movement sleep after resumption of respiration. RESULTS: Compared to the placebo, sildenafil was associated with an increase in the normalized high-frequency (HFnu) components and a decrease in the low/high-frequency components of the heart rate variability ratio (LF/HF) in slow wave sleep (p<0.01 for both). Differences in heart rate variability parameters between one-minute post-apnea and apnea samples (Δ= difference between resumption of respiration and apnea) were assessed. A trend toward a decreasing magnitude of ΔLF activity was observed during rapid eye movement sleep with sildenafil in comparison to placebo (p=0.046). Additionally, Δ LF/HF in SWS and rapid eye movement sleep was correlated with mean desaturation (sR= -0.72 and -0.51, respectively, p= 0.01 for both), and Δ HFnu in rapid eye movement sleep was correlated with mean desaturation (sR= 0.66, p= 0.02) and the desaturation index (sR= 0.58, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in arousal response to apnea/hypopnea events along with the increase in HFnu components and decrease in LH/HF components of the heart rate variability ratio during slow wave sleep suggest that, in addition to worsening sleep apnea, sildenafil has potentially immediate cardiac effects in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea.