Efficacy of Bevacizumab Compared to Mitomycin C Modulated Trabeculectomy in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A One-Year Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of bevacizumab over mitomycin C (MMC) modulated trabeculectomy in cases of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHOD: In this prospective randomized controlled study, 80 eyes of 80 patients with uncontrolled POAG or intolerant to antiglaucoma medications were randomized to two groups: Group 1 (n = 40) patients underwent trabeculectomy modulated with MMC (0.2 mg/ml), whereas Group 2 (n = 40) patients underwent trabeculectomy modulated with bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml). The outcome measures were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications and bleb morphological features based on Moorfields Bleb Grading System (MBGS). All patients were followed up for one year post trabeculectomy. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP in the bevacizumab group improved from 22.41 ±1.08 mm Hg with 3.2 ± 0.9 glaucoma medications to 13.68 ± 0.79 mm Hg with 0.11 ± 0.32 glaucoma medications at one year (P < 0.001). The mean preoperative IOP in the MMC group improved from 22.64 ± 0.90 mm Hg with 3.1 ± 0.8 glaucoma medications to 13.84 ± 0.73 mm Hg with 0.17 ± 0.38 glaucoma medications at one year (P < 0.001). IOP was comparable between two groups at one year (P = 0.43). No significant differences were found in bleb morphological features based on MBGS regarding central bleb area, peripheral bleb area, height and central vascularity between the two groups at six months and one year. However, there was a statistically significant difference in peripheral bleb vascularity and peripheral non-bleb vascularity with bevacizumab group exhibiting a low degree of vascularity at one year (P = 0.029 and 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Adjunctive bevacizumab in trabeculectomy is effective and comparable to MMC for controlling IOP in POAG patients for the first year.

Allogenic cultivated limbal stem cell transplantation versus cadaveric keratolimbal allograft in ocular surface disorder: 1-year outcome.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcome of allogenic ex vivo cultivated limbal stem cell transplantation (LSCT) versus cadaveric keratolimbal allograft in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). METHODS: In this prospective interventional study from Army Hospital Research and Referral in New Delhi, 50 eyes of 40 patients with ocular surface disorder having LSCD underwent either cultivated LSCT (group 1: 25 eyes of 20 patients) or keratolimbal allograft transplantation (group 2: 25 eyes of 20 patients). The outcome measures were gain of two or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), absence of conjunctival vascularization over cornea, corneal neovascularization regression, regression of visually significant corneal opacity (iris details poorly visible), Schirmer's 1 ≥10 s, tear break-up time (TBUT) ≥10 s, and absence of fluorescein staining. RESULTS: At 1 year of follow-up, both groups experienced significant improvement in all outcome measures, but there was no significant difference between both groups in improvement of two or more lines of BCVA (P = 0.841), absence of conjunctival vascularization over cornea (P = 0.812), corneal neovascularization (P = 0.074), visually significant corneal opacity (P = 0.075), Schirmer's 1 ≥10 s (P = 0.814), TBUT ≥10 s (P = 0.382), or absence of fluorescein stain (P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: Both allogenic ex vivo cultivated LSCT and cadaveric keratolimbal allograft transplantation are comparable in terms of visual gain and ocular surface restoration.

A Rare Case of Hemoglobin E Hemoglobinopathy with Gaucher's Disease.

Hemoglobin (Hb) E mutation is common in north-east part of our country. The natural history of Hb E thalassemia is highly variable. The phenotype, for patients with similar mutations, can range from asymptomatic to transfusion dependent. Our patient presented at 2 years of age with failure to thrive and hepatosplenomegaly. Routine work up revealed microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells. Hb E homozygous was indicated on electrophoresis and hemoglobin HPLC. Evaluation of parents revealed Haemoglobin E trait in both. Therapeutic splenectomy revealed Gaucher-like cells. ß-Glucocerebrosidase levels were low. Presence of Gaucher-like cells with normal ß-glucocerebrosidase (pseudo-Gaucher cells) are known in leukemia, multiple myeloma, thalassemia and mycobacterial infections. Co-existence of Gaucher's disease with Hb E mutation is not reported to the best of our knowledge.

A rare case of hilar lymph node schwannoma.

Schwannoma arising in a lymph node is an extremely rare primary mesenchymal tumor of the lymph node. Although intranodal schwannoma is benign, this lesion in a lymph node may be initially alarming and it may suggest a diagnosis of intranodal metastasis from a spindle cell tumor. Microscopic examination of tumor shows Antoni A areas, which are moderate to highly cellular areas of elongated cells arranged in fascicles, and Antoni B areas, which are hypocellular areas with myxoid and microcystic change. Tumor cell morphology is similar in both areas with elongated shape and regular oval nuclei. Immunohistochemistry report shows strong and diffuse positivity for S-100 which is consistent with Schwann cell origin. We report a rare case of intranodal schwannoma arising in the hilar lymph node with its clinical, light microscopic, and immunohistochemical findings.

Unusual autopsy finding in a case of metastatic teratocarcinoma.

An unusual autopsy finding was seen in a young case of metastatic teratocarcinoma of the right testis. The patient presented with features of myocardial ischemia and died of sudden cardiac arrest. At autopsy, the lungs were studded with variably sized metastatic nodules composed of glistening hyaline cartilage. Examination of the coronary arteries revealed complete occlusion of the left anterior descending and left circumflex artery lumina by tumor emboli composed of glistening white chondromyxoid material. Histopathology confirmed the presence of mature hyaline cartilage and chondromyxoid material in tumor emboli. The individual died due to severe coronary insufficiency and sudden cardiac arrest secondary to complete luminal occlusion of the left anterior descending and left circumflex artery lumina by tumor emboli composed of hyaline cartilage.