Graves' Orbitopathy: Report of 82 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Graves' disease (GD) is a common autoimmune disorder. Graves'orbitopathy (GO) is its most common extrathyroidal manifestation. It is rare but may reveal the disease. AIM: To describe the demographic, clinical and therapeutic features of GO. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective and descriptive analysis of 82 patients with GO. This study was conducted in Ophthalmology and Endocrinology departments of Taher Sfar University Hospital in Mahdia, between January 2010 and December 2017. GD patients diagnosed with GO were included. RESULTS: The mean age was 36.17 years ± 12.81. Patients aged 19-40 years had the highest rate of GO. The male-to-female ratio was 0.49. Family history of autoimmune thyroid disease was present in 15% and associated autoimmune disease in 4% of cases. Smoking was seen in 71% of patients. The onset of GO was simultaneous with onset of GD in 45%, before in 21% and after the onset of GD in 34% of cases. GO was bilateral in 76% of patients. The most common ocular symptoms were prominent eyes (55% of patients), ocular pain (11%) and diplopia (41%). Proptosis and upper eyelid retraction were the most common clinical signs (93% and 90% respectively). Dysthyroid optic neuropathy was present in one eye, keratitis in one eye and glaucoma in five eyes. Severe disease was noted in 11% and active disease was present in 7% of patients. CT-scan and magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) were performed in 48% and 42% of cases respectively. Proptosis was the most common radiological sign. Thyroid dysfunction was managed with anti-thyroid medication only (59%), thyroxine replacement (37%), radioactive iodine (35%) and thyroidectomy (6%). 20% of patients received corticosteroids. One patient required immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: GO is a complex disease, which is associated with impaired quality of life and can potentially result in sight-threatening complications. Appropriate diagnosis, convenient therapy and a regular follow-up are necessary to improve results and avoid the aesthetic and functional sequelae.

Branch retinal artery occlusion associated with posterior uveitis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical features and visual outcome of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) associated with posterior uveitis. This is a retrospective study including the 18 eyes of 18 patients. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and visual field testing were performed in all cases. RESULTS: Diseases associated with BRAO included active ocular toxoplasmosis in 7 patients, rickettsiosis in 4, Behçet's uveitis in 2, West Nile virus infection in 1, idiopathic retinal vasculitis in 1, Crohn's disease in 1, ocular tuberculosis in 1, and idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis syndrome in 1 patient. The mean initial visual acuity was 20/50. BRAO involved the first order retinal artery in 33.3% of the eyes, the second order retinal artery in 33.3%, an arteriole in 27.8%, and a cilioretinal artery in 5.5%. The macula was involved in 44.4% of the eyes and an acute focus of retinitis or retinochoroiditis was associated to BRAO in 55.5%. Repermeabilization of the occluded artery occurred in all patients with permanent scotomas in the corresponding visual field. The mean visual acuity at last visit was 20/32. CONCLUSIONS: BRAO, with subsequent visual impairment, may occur in the eyes with posterior uveitis. Physicians should be aware of such vision-threatening complication of infectious and inflammatory eye diseases.

Macular involvement in patients with Behçet's uveitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess macular involvement in patients with Behçet's uveitis. METHODS: The study included 65 patients (120 eyes) with Behçet's uveitis. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination, including dilated biomicroscopic fundus examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 46 months (mean 20 months). RESULTS: At initial examination, 29 eyes (24.1 %) had macular involvement including macular edema (16 eyes, 13.3 %), serous retinal detachment (SRD; five eyes, 4.1 %), active retinitis (three eyes, 2.5 %), macular hole (three eyes, 2.5 %), macular atrophy (two eyes, 1.6 %), macular ischemia (one eye, 0.8 %), epiretinal membrane (one eye, 0.8 %), branch retinal vein occlusion involving the macula (three eyes, 2.5 %), and branch retinal artery occlusion involving the macula (two eyes, 1.6 %). During follow-up, 22 eyes (18.3 %) developed macular complications including macular edema (ten eyes, 8.3 %), SRD (four eyes, 3.3 %), active retinitis (two eyes, 1.6 %), severe macular atrophy (two eyes, 1.6 %), macular ischemia (three eyes, 2.5 %), macular hole (one eye, 0.8 %), epiretinal membrane (two eyes, 1.6 %), and subretinal fibrosis (one eye, 0.8 %). Branch retinal vein occlusion involving the macula developed in two eyes (1.6 %). Final best corrected visual acuity in patients with macular involvement ranged from 20/400 to 20/25 (mean 20/80). CONCLUSIONS: Macular edema and other vision-threatening macular complications are common in Behçet's uveitis. Macular damage is often irreversible, causing permanent visual impairment. Early and appropriate treatment of Behçet's uveitis is mandatory to reduce the risk of visual impairment due to macular involvement.