Cilioretinal artery hypoperfusion and its association with paracentral acute middle maculopathy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To study the multimodal imaging findings of a large series of eyes with cilioretinal artery obstruction (CILRAO) and describe the systemic associations. METHODS: Multicentre, retrospective chart review from 12 different retina clinics worldwide of eyes with CILRAO, defined as acute retinal whitening in the distribution of the cilioretinal artery, were identified. The clinical, systemic information and multimodal retinal imaging findings were collected and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 53 eyes of 53 patients with CILRAO were included in the study. In 100% of eyes, fundus photography illustrated deep retinal whitening corresponding to the course of the cilioretinal artery. Twenty-eight patients (52.8%) presented with isolated CILRAO (baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 20/50, final BCVA 20/25) associated with nocturnal hypotension, 23 patients (43.4%) with CILRAO secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (baseline BCVA 20/40, final BCVA 20/20) and two patients with CILRAO due to biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) (baseline BCVA 20/175, final BCVA 20/75). With spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), a hyper-reflective band involving the inner nuclear layer (ie, paracentral acute middle maculopathy or PAMM) was noted in 51 eyes (28/28 eyes with isolated CILRAO and 23/23 eyes with CILRAO+CRVO) corresponding to the retinal whitening. In the two eyes with CILRAO+GCA, SD-OCT illustrated hyper-reflective ischaemia of both the middle and inner retina. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated CILRAO and CILRAO secondary to CRVO are the result of hypoperfusion or insufficiency, rather than occlusion, of the cilioretinal artery and are associated with PAMM or selective infarction of the the inner nuclear layer. With GCA, there is complete occlusion of the cilioretinal artery producing ischaemia involving both the middle and inner retina associated with worse visual outcomes.

The Posterior Unstable Shoulder: Natural History, Clinical Evaluation and Imaging.

BACKGROUND: There is a low incidence of posterior instability which is present in only 2% to 10% of all unstable shoulders. The posterior instable shoulder includes different manifestations like fixed dislocation, recurrent subluxation or dislocation. METHODS: Research and online content related to posterior instability is reviewed. Natural history, clinical evaluation and imaging are described. RESULTS: An awareness of the disorder, together with a thoughtful evaluation, beginning with the clinical history, usually leads to proper diagnosis. An appropriate physical exam, taking in account hyperlaxity and specific tests for posterior instability should be done. CONCLUSION: Posterior shoulder instability is an uncommon condition and is challenging to diagnose. There is not a single injury that is responsible for all cases of recurrent shoulder dislocation or subluxation, and the presence of soft tissue lesions or bone alterations should be evaluated, with the use of adequate simple radiology and multiplanar imaging.

Long-term follow-up of photoreceptor loss and recovery after half-fluence photodynamic therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy with apparent transient, reversible loss of photoreceptor outer segments after half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT). METHODS: The authors reviewed the clinical and imaging records over a 2-year period of a case of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy treated with PDT. RESULTS: A 58-year-old man with a 3-year history of blurry central vision in his right eye due to persistent subretinal fluid associated with central serous chorioretinopathy elected to undergo half-fluence verteporfin PDT. Before treatment, visual acuity was 20/60, but 3 weeks after treatment, the patient returned complaining of significant worsening of vision to 20/200 and optical coherence tomography revealed resolution of subretinal fluid, but apparent loss of inner segment-outer segment band with preservation of the external limiting membrane. Twelve weeks after PDT, vision had recovered to 20/40 with reconstitution of inner segment-outer segment band under the fovea. The inner segment-outer segment band remained intact through the Month 22 follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Severe visual loss can follow reduced fluence PDT for central serous chorioretinopathy. In this case, the mechanism of the loss appeared to be transient loss of the photoreceptor outer segments. The external limiting membrane remained intact in this case, a recovery of the outer segments with improvement in visual acuity was ultimately observed.

One-Year Feasibility Study of Replenish MicroPump for Intravitreal Drug Delivery: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of the surgical procedure and to collect some safety data regarding the bioelectronics of a novel micro drug pump for intravitreal drug delivery in a Beagle dog model for up to 1 year. METHODS: Thirteen Beagle dogs were assigned to two groups. The experimental group (n = 11) underwent pars plana implantation of MicroPump; the body of which was sutured episclerally, while its catheter was secured at a pars plana sclerotomy. The control group (n = 2) underwent sham surgeries in the form of a temporary suturing of the MicroPump, including placement of the pars plana tube. Baseline and follow-up exams included ophthalmic examination and imaging. The experimental animals were euthanized and explanted at predetermined time points after surgery (1, 3, and 12 months), while the control animals were euthanized at 3 months. All operated eyes were submitted for histopathology. RESULTS: Eyes were scored according to a modified McDonald-Shadduck system and ophthalmic imaging. Neither the implanted eyes nor the control eyes showed clinically significant pathological changes beyond the expected surgical changes. The operated eyes showed neither significant inflammatory reaction nor tissue ingrowth through the sclerotomy site compared with the fellow eyes. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the Replenish Posterior MicroPump could be successfully implanted with good safety profile in this animal model. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study in a Beagle dog model are supportive of the biocompatibility of Replenish MicroPump and pave the way to the use of these devices for ocular automated drug delivery after further testing in larger animal models.

Reibergram of intrathecal synthesis of C4 in patients with eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis produces eosinophilic meningitis in humans and is endemic in Thailand, Taiwan, China, and the Caribbean region. During infection with this parasite, it is important to know if the complement system may be activated by the classical or lectin pathway. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples from 20 patients with meningitic angiostrongyliasis were used to quantify C4 levels and albumin. Results were plotted on a C4 CSF/serum quotient diagram or Reibergram. Twelve patients showed intrathecal synthesis of C4. Antibody-dependent complement cytotoxicity should be considered as a possible mechanism that destroys third-stage larvae of this helminth in cerebrospinal fluid of affected patients.