Clinical case: Serpiginous-like choroiditis with macular involvement and good response after treatment with adalimumab.

Clinical case of a 42-year-old woman who consulted for decreased vision in the left eye over two months, associated with multifocal choroiditis. Different diagnostic tests were performed to rule out infectious pathologies, as well as a diagnostic vitrectomy test, which was negative. QuantiFERON® was found to be positive and a diagnosis of serpeginous-like choroiditis (SLC) was made. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was started with worsening of vision and multifocal choroiditis. Once conventional immunotherapy and biological treatment were added, the patient presented a significant improvement in vision. To conclude, in cases of CSL, it is not only necessary to treat the infection but also the inflammatory component either with steroids or conventional immunotherapy or immunosuppression with biologics, thus reducing the number of reactivations and improving the visual prognosis.

Caso clínico: coroiditis serpiginosa-like con afectación macular y buena evolución tras tratamiento con adalimumab / Clinical case: Serpiginous-like choroiditis with macular involvement and good response after treatment with adalimumab

Se presenta el caso clínico de una mujer de 42 años, que consultó por disminución de visión del ojo izquierdo de 2 meses evolución, asociada a coroiditis multifocal. Se realizaron diferentes pruebas diagnósticas para descartar enfermedad infecciosa, al igual que se realizó una vitrectomía diagnóstica, que resultó negativa. Se encontró QuantiFERON® positivo y se realizó el diagnóstico de coroiditis serpiginosa-like (CS-L). Se inició tratamiento antituberculoso con empeoramiento de la visión y de la coroiditis multifocal. Una vez que se agregaron inmunoterapia convencional y tratamiento biológico, la paciente presentó mejoría significativa de la visión. Para concluir, en casos de CS-L no solo es necesario el tratamiento de la infección, sino también del componente inflamatorio, sea con inmunoterapia convencional o inmunosupresión con biológicos, y así disminuir el número de reactivaciones mejorando el pronóstico visual (AU)

Clinical case of a 42-year-old woman who consulted for decreased vision in the left eye over 2months, associated with multifocal choroiditis. Different diagnostic tests were performed to rule out infectious pathologies, as well as a diagnostic vitrectomy test, which was negative. QuantiFERON® was found to be positive and a diagnosis of serpiginous-like choroiditis (SLC) was made. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was started with worsening of vision and multifocal choroiditis. Once conventional immunotherapy and biological treatment were added, the patient presented a significant improvement in vision. To conclude, in cases of SLC, it is not only necessary to treat the infection but also the inflammatory component either with steroids or conventional immunotherapy or immunosuppression with biologics, thus reducing the number of reactivations and improving the visual prognosis (AU)

Aniridia and the ocular surface: Medical and surgical problems and solutions.

Congenital aniridia is a multisystemic genetic disease due to a mutation in PAX6 gene which severely affects the development and functionality of the human eyes. In patients affected by the mutation, aside from the absence or defects of iris tissue formation, abnormalities in position or opacities of the crystalline lens, macular hypoplasia, ocular surface disease is the main cause of visual loss and the deterioration of the quality of life of most patients. Limbal stem cell deficiency combined with tear film instability and secondary dry eye cause aniridic keratopathy which, in advanced stages, ends up in corneal opacification. In this paper, the actual knowledge about congenital aniridia keratopathy physiopathology and medical and surgical treatment options and their efficacy are discussed. Indications and results of topical treatments with artificial tears and blood-derivatives in its initial stages, and different surgical techniques as limbal stem cell transplantation, keratoplasty and keratoprostheses are reviewed. Finally, recent advances and results in regenerative medicine techniques with ex vivo stem cell cultivation or other types of cultivated cells are presented.

[Conjunctival blistering associated with pemphigus vulgaris: report of a case]. / Ampolla conjuntival en el contexto de pénfigo vulgar: a propósito de un caso.

CLINICAL CASE: A patient with a conjunctival blister was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris by immunofluorescence tests performed on a conjunctival biopsy. DISCUSSION: Pemphigus vulgaris is an uncommon but serious autoimmune disease that produces blisters of the skin and mucous membranes. Ocular findings are rare, but include conjunctivitis and marginal eyelid erosions. Conjunctival blisters and erosions related to this condition have not been previously reported in the literature. This diagnosis can be made through direct immunofluorescence tests performed on biopsy samples of affected tissue. Unless the condition is properly diagnosed and treated, it has a high mortality.

[Corneal epithelial complications after vitrectomy: a retrospective study]. / Complicaciones corneales epiteliales de las vitrectomías: estudio retrospectivo.

PURPOSE: To establish the incidence, evolution and final visual outcome of corneal epithelial complications after vitrectomy in a consecutive series performed throughout a period of one year. METHODS: 195 consecutive medical records of patients vitrectomized in 2001 have been retrospectively reviewed. Patients were clinically evaluated the day after vitrectomy, during the first week, and then weekly for 3 months (minimum follow-up). Functional results have been established at the end of this period. RESULTS: 12 out of 195 eyes developed corneal epithelial complications after surgery (6.1%). Eight cases were diagnosed of persistent epithelial defect (4.1%), and four cases (2%) of necrotizing herpetic keratitis. Six out of 12 were diabetic. Corneal epithelial complications affected 10.5% of diabetic and 4.3% of non-diabetic patients (p=0.10). The majority of persistent epithelial defects healed without sequelae in less than two months. Herpetic keratitis required between 3 to 4 months to heal and caused corneal scarring in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent corneal epithelial defects after vitrectomy are a relatively frequent complication, mainly in diabetic patients. Recurrence of herpetic keratitis must also be kept in mind. This finding has not been previously reported and needs further studies.

[Ocular sarcoidosis. Retrospective study of 18 cases]. / Sarcoidosis ocular. Estudio retrospectivo de 18 casos.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and the final visual outcome of a group of patients with ocular sarcoidosis. METHODS: Retrospective study of 18 patients diagnosed of ocular sarcoidosis between March 1989 and May 1999. In every patient the following data were obtained: age, sex, bilaterality, initial and final visual outcome, systemic and ocular manifestations, stage of chest x-ray, serum markers, gallium scan, results of biopsy, medical and surgical treatment, and complications of treatment. RESULTS: The mean age at onset was 49.7 years (S.D. 19.9). Fourteen patients (77.8%) were female and 4 (22.2%) were male. The average follow-up time was 40.3 months (S.D. 28.7). Nine patients (50.0%) underwent a biopsy. The presence of non-caseating granulomata was observed in 7 (77.8%). Gallium scanning was positive in 16 cases (88.8%). The most frequent ocular manifestation was panuveitis (40.0%). Among the 30 eyes studied, conjunctival involvement was found in 10 (33.3%), secondary cataracts in 9 (30.0%), and secondary glaucoma in 6 (20.0%). Eleven patients (61.1%) were treated with oral corticosteroids and 10 (55,5%) with cyclosporine A. When sarcoidosis was diagnosed, 11 eyes (36.6%) had a visual acuity better than 0.6. At the end of the follow-up, the final visual outcome was better than 0.6 in 17 eyes (56.6%). CONCLUSIONS: An adequate control of ocular inflammation may improve the prognosis in patients with ocular sarcoidosis. Posterior segment involvement (posterior uveitis, macular edema or epiretinal membrane) may be associated with a worse visual prognosis.

[Anterior stromal puncture for recurrent corneal erosion]. / Micropunciones del estroma anterior corneal como tratamiento de la erosión corneal recidivante.

PURPOSE: Assess the efficacy of corneal anterior stromal punctures as treatment for Recurrent Corneal Erosion (RCE) and relapse prevention. Two other treatments are compared: simple occlusion with antibiotic ointment, not manipulating the lesion and debridement of erosion previous to occlusion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on a total of 36 patients diagnosed with RCE where cases underwent different treatments and results were compared. Other general factors influencing the evolution of the illness are evaluated as well. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found comparing the effectiveness of these three treatments to decrease the risk of relapses in erosion. Presence of signs of map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy is common in RCE patients, however not associated with higher risk of relapse. The most frequent associated alteration is meibomitis. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of RCE with erosion debridement previous to occlusion results in a high rate of healing and this treatment seems better than stromal punctures since it implies less potential risks. Pathogenesis of RCE still remains obscure. Association with certain dystrophys of the epithelial basal membrane could not be demonstrated in this study. However, it is possible that the presence of meibomitis, associated with lids contamination by certain strains of staphylococcus aureus, may play an important role in RCE pathogenesis (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2002; 77: 257-262).