ABSTRACT
The lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) could be affected by dynamic changes in its structure. Using Spectral-domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), we have studied the behaviour of the laminar region in 14 young subjects over 24h. Significant changes in LCT were observed, depending on the time at which the measurement was taken, with the maximum thickness being observed at 7.30 p.m., and the minimum at 7.30 a.m. This finding could suggests a circadian pattern in the LCT thickness in healthy subjects, which could have implications for the classification, diagnosis and prognosis of both normal and glaucomatous subjects.
ABSTRACT
To research whether specific alleles HLA class I (HLA-A and HLA-B) and class II (HLA-DR) are risk factors for the development of exudative type of Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), HLA antigens are expressed both in normal and affected eyes with ARMD. We designed a prospective case-controlled study. We recruited 75 patients with choroidal neovascularization predominantly classic or occult, secondary to ARMD, and treated with photodynamic therapy. Two hundred and fifty patients over 55 years old, without ophthalmologic pathology who went to hospital for an analytical routine check were used as control. The analysis of the data shows a significant difference between two groups. Allele HLA-B27 correlated positively with ARMD (p < 0.0113). However, we didn't find alleles negatively associated. Thus HLA-B27 is an allele predisposed to suffer ARMD.
Subject(s)
Choroidal Neovascularization/genetics , Exudates and Transudates/metabolism , HLA-B27 Antigen/genetics , Macular Degeneration/genetics , Photochemotherapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Choroidal Neovascularization/etiology , Choroidal Neovascularization/physiopathology , Choroidal Neovascularization/therapy , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , HLA-A Antigens/genetics , HLA-DR Antigens/genetics , Histocompatibility Testing , Humans , Macular Degeneration/complications , Macular Degeneration/physiopathology , Macular Degeneration/therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Genetic , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsSubject(s)
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2/blood , Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism , Retinopathy of Prematurity/blood , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/blood , Cryotherapy , Gestational Age , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Laser Coagulation , Male , Retinal Neovascularization/blood , Retinal Neovascularization/surgery , Retinopathy of Prematurity/surgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the local and systemic levels of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha in patients with active uveitis and to determine the implication of TNF-alpha in rheumatological uveitis and to observe if this relationship is more significant in the B27 positive patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were selected on the basis of a diagnosis of uveitis of any aetiology. Data from 23 patients were stratified into two categories according to the presence or absence of systemic rheumatic disease. The first group comprised nine patients with rheumatic disease; the second group contained 14 patients without rheumatic disease. The patients were also sub-classified into those who were HLA-B27 positive (14 patients) and those who were not. TNF-alpha levels in serum and aqueous humour from a group of 16 patients with uncomplicated cataracts were analysed as a control group. RESULTS: In the control group (n = 16) the serum TNF-alpha concentration was 13.1 +/- 2.9 pg/ml and the aqueous humour concentration of TNF-alpha was 0.56 +/- 1.53 pg/ml. In uveitis patients (n = 23) the serum TNF-alpha concentration was 35.35 +/- 26.77 pg/ml and the aqueous humour concentration of TNF-alpha was 15.1 +/- 1.70 pg/ml (p < 0.01). In HLA-B27 positive patients (n = 9) the serum TNF-alpha concentration was 45.56 +/- 34.17 pg/ml and the aqueous humour concentration of TNF-alpha was 15.89 +/- 0.93 pg/ml. In HLA-B27 negative patients (n = 14) the serum TNF-alpha concentration was 28.79 +/- 19.38 pg/ml and aqueous humour concentration of TNF-alpha was 14.57 +/- 1.91 pg/ml (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of TNF-alpha in aqueous humour in patients who are HLA-B27 positive is significantly greater than in those who are B27 negative. No significant differences in the concentrations of TNF-alpha in serum or aqueous humour in patients with or without rheumatic diseases were detected. TNF-alpha is a cytokine that may participate actively in the pathogenesis of clinical uveitis.
