Effects of Orbital Decompression on Lamina Cribrosa Depth in Patients with Graves' Orbitopathy

PURPOSE: We sought to investigate the effects of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and orbital decompression on lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Forty eyes that underwent orbital decompression to relieve compressive optic neuropathy or correct disfiguring exophthalmos in the context of GO were included. Subjects were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography before surgery and at 1 and 3 months after surgery, at which the examiner measured the LCD (distance from the anterior surface of the lamina cribrosa to the Bruch membrane opening line) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Subjects were divided into two groups—a muscle-dominant group composed of patients who had extraocular muscle enlargement on preoperative orbital computed tomography scan and a fat-dominant group composed of patients who did not show extraocular muscle enlargement on preoperative orbital computed tomography scan—and subgroup analysis was performed. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure, exophthalmos, LCD, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were evaluated. RESULTS: At baseline, LCD was remarkably shallower in the muscle-dominant group than in the fat-dominant group (95% confidence interval, p = 0.007). In the muscle-dominant group, LCD showed no definite change after surgery. However, the fat-dominant group showed temporary posterior displacement of the lamina cribrosa at 1-month postoperation that was reversed to baseline at 3 months postoperation (95% confidence interval, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The lamina cribrosa was anteriorly displaced preoperatively, and its position was nearly unchanged after the surgery, especially in association with extraocular muscle enlargement. An enlarged extraocular muscle could reduce the pressure-relieving effect of orbital decompression around the scleral canal in patients with GO.

Relationship between Alcohol Consumption and Ocular Pressure according to Facial Flushing in Korean Men with Obesity / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and intraocular pressure (IOP) according to facial flushing in Korean men with obesity. METHODS: The study included 479 Korean men with a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m² (75 non-drinkers, 174 with drinking-related facial flushing, and 230 without facial flushing) who underwent health check-ups between October 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption and high IOP (≥21 mm Hg). RESULTS: Flushers consuming ≤16 drinks per week had a significantly higher risk of high IOP than non-drinkers, depending on alcohol consumption (≤8 standard drinks: odds ratio [OR], 4.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–19.25; >8 but ≤16 standard drinks: OR, 8.14; 95% CI, 1.37–48.45). However, when the consumption was >16 drinks per week, the high IOP risk did not significantly increase (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.05–10.69). In addition, there was no significant relationship between alcohol consumption and high IOP among non-flushers consuming ≤8 drinks per week (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 0.52–8.19). However, a significantly increased risk of high IOP was observed among non-flushers consuming >8 drinks per week, depending on alcohol consumption (>8 but ≤16 standard drinks: OR, 4.84; 95% CI, 1.14–20.61; >16 standard drinks: OR, 4.08; 95% CI, 1.02–16.26). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that obese men with alcohol flush reactions may have an increased risk of high IOP with the consumption of smaller amounts of alcohol than non-flushers.

Use of fludrocortisone for intradialytic hypotension

Intradialytic hypotension during dialysis adversely affects a patient's prognosis and increases mortality. We report a case in which intradialytic hypotension that persisted after the administration of midodrine was relieved after the use of fludrocortisone. Administration of 0.2 mg of fludrocortisone occurred 30 minutes before dialysis. We compared 45 sessions of dialysis without fludrocortisone administration and 45 sessions of dialysis with fludrocortisone administration in one patient. The number of times in which systolic blood pressure became lower than 80 mmHg and the number of early terminations of dialysis due to a decrease in systolic blood pressure were higher in the sessions without fludrocortisone administration than in the sessions with fludrocortisone administration (P < 0.05). Fludrocortisone may be helpful for the treatment of intradialytic hypotension that does not respond to midodrine administration.

A Retrospective Analysis of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis with Ocular Manifestations

PURPOSE: To analyze the treatment and prognosis of patients from our tertiary medical center with ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis that visited our single tertiary referral center from July 2008 to September 2014 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis visited our center, and 21 of those patients had received an ophthalmologic examination. Of these, 9 patients (4 males, 5 females) had symptoms of the eye and orbit, and the clinical presentations were as follows: episcleritis, scleritis, marginal keratitis, orbital inflammation, orbital abscess, retinal vasculitis, and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The patients each received treatments according to clinical presentation with topical, oral, or intravenous steroids or immunomodulatory agents such as cyclophosphamide. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction was treated with surgery in some cases. After an average follow-up period of 58 ± 30 months, all patients showed clinical improvement of their ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. CONCLUSIONS: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a relatively rare disease that sometimes has ocular or orbital involvement and can lead to blindness. Therefore, when ocular symptoms and signs present without a definitive cause, granulomatosis with polyangiitis must be ruled out, and appropriate treatment is needed. However, there are few published reports on the clinical presentation and prognosis of ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Asians. This study showed that the incidence of ocular and orbital involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis was lower than previous reports.

A Retrospective Analysis of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis with Ocular Manifestations

PURPOSE: To analyze the treatment and prognosis of patients from our tertiary medical center with ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis that visited our single tertiary referral center from July 2008 to September 2014 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis visited our center, and 21 of those patients had received an ophthalmologic examination. Of these, 9 patients (4 males, 5 females) had symptoms of the eye and orbit, and the clinical presentations were as follows: episcleritis, scleritis, marginal keratitis, orbital inflammation, orbital abscess, retinal vasculitis, and nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The patients each received treatments according to clinical presentation with topical, oral, or intravenous steroids or immunomodulatory agents such as cyclophosphamide. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction was treated with surgery in some cases. After an average follow-up period of 58 ± 30 months, all patients showed clinical improvement of their ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. CONCLUSIONS: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a relatively rare disease that sometimes has ocular or orbital involvement and can lead to blindness. Therefore, when ocular symptoms and signs present without a definitive cause, granulomatosis with polyangiitis must be ruled out, and appropriate treatment is needed. However, there are few published reports on the clinical presentation and prognosis of ocular and orbital involvement of granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Asians. This study showed that the incidence of ocular and orbital involvement in granulomatosis with polyangiitis was lower than previous reports.

Clinical Features of Serious Adverse Drug Reactions in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Korea / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have reported on the clinical aspects of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To date, no study has evaluated serious adverse drug reactions (SADRs) in Korea. The current study evaluates the clinical expression of SADRs in a Korean hospital. METHODS: We reviewed a total of 3,386 cases of SADR occurring between March 2012 and November 2015 in a single tertiary care institution (Regional Pharmacovigilance Center). RESULTS: When classified by organ system, the most common SADRs were white cell and reticuloendothelial system disorders (n = 511). Skin/appendage (n = 296) and gastrointestinal (n = 216) disorders were the fourth- and eighth-most common SADRs, respectively. The three most common single symptoms were leukopenia (n = 499 events), hypotension (n = 444) and anaphylaxis (n = 215). Leukopenia was mainly caused by anti-tumor drugs, followed by piperacilin/tazobactam (n = 28), vancomycin (n = 10) and methimazole (n = 6). Hypotension was most often caused by propacetamol injection (n = 145), while anaphylaxis was mainly caused by cefaclor (n = 19), ranitidine (n = 12), iopamidol (n = 10) and multi-vitamin infusion (n = 9). CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences were noted in the clinical aspects of ADRs and SADRs. Additional studies are warranted to further assess SADRs in response to frequently used causative drugs.

A Case of Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Discovered by Repetitive Intraocular Lens Dislocation

PURPOSE: To report a case where bilateral malignant retrobulbar lymphoma was diagnosed after repetitive intraocular lens dislocation to the anterior chamber. CASE SUMMARY: An 85-year-old male with a history of stroke who had undergone cataract surgery 10 years ago at another hospital presented with repeated intraocular lens (IOL) dislocations of both eyes into the anterior chamber. He had previously undergone IOL scleral fixation once in his left eye and twice in his right eye, but IOL dislocation was still repeatedly occurring. The best-corrected visual acuity was 0.4 in both eyes. Hertel exophthalmetry was 20 mm in his right eye and 18 mm in his left eye. Painless limitation of motion at supraduction was observed in the right eye. Funduscopy showed newly appeared choroidal folding in the right eye, so orbital computed tomography (CT) with contrast was performed. The CT scans showed bilateral homogenously enhancing retrobulbar masses. Biopsy of the masses showed a MALToma. After radiation therapy, the choroidal folds resolved and exophthalmetry improved to 10 mm in both eyes. No additional IOL dislocation occurred. During 2.5 years of follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis of the MALToma. CONCLUSIONS: Orbital lymphomas can cause lid edema, exophthalmos, strabismus, and diplopia, and can be diagnosed with imaging modalities such as CT. Final diagnosis involves biopsy and radiation therapy or chemotherapy. If IOL dislocation occurs repeatedly, it may result from an increase in retrobulbar pressure, and concurrent choroidal folding using funduscopy is strongly recommended for imaging to check for the presence of retrobulbar masses.

Rapidly resolved IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis after steroid pulse therapy / 영남의대학술지

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF) is a disorder characterized by the presence of a retroperitoneal mass and concurrent systemic inflammation. Some cases of RF are recognized as belonging to the spectrum of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Glucocorticoids are highly effective for treatment of retroperitoneal fibrosis, although the optimal dose and duration of therapy have not been established. An initial dose of prednisone (40-60 mg) daily is usually administered with a tapering scheme. We report on a 55-year-old man diagnosed with IgG4-related RF and successfully treated with a 3-day course of daily 250 mg (4 mg/kg) intravenous methylprednisolone, which resulted in the prompt resolution of urinary obstruction and systemic symptoms.

Multiple System Atrophy Manifested by Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy as an Initial Sign / 대한중환자의학회지

A 71-year-old male initially presented with vocal cord palsy and underwent tracheostomy. After thorough examination, urogenital dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, and Parkinsonism were found, which led to the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA). After the tracheostomy, bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation was required during the night due to nocturnal hypoxemia. Night-time hypoxemia is related to central sleep apnea, which is one of the manifestations of MSA. This is the first case of MSA manifested by bilateral vocal cord palsy as an initial sign in Korea. This case supports the notion that MSA should be taken into consideration when vocal cord paralysis is observed.

Multiple System Atrophy Manifested by Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy as an Initial Sign / 대한구급학회지

A 71-year-old male initially presented with vocal cord palsy and underwent tracheostomy. After thorough examination, urogenital dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, and Parkinsonism were found, which led to the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA). After the tracheostomy, bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation was required during the night due to nocturnal hypoxemia. Night-time hypoxemia is related to central sleep apnea, which is one of the manifestations of MSA. This is the first case of MSA manifested by bilateral vocal cord palsy as an initial sign in Korea. This case supports the notion that MSA should be taken into consideration when vocal cord paralysis is observed.

A Case of Paradoxical Reaction after Treatment of Eyelid Tuberculosis

No abstract available.