Central retinal artery occlusion and subsequent amaurosis fugax in the contralateral eye associated with the G20210A prothrombin gene (F2) variant: a case report.

PURPOSE: Report the case of a patient with a history of central retinal artery occlusion in her right eye and amaurosis fugax associated with acute ischemic changes in her left eye related to a prothrombin G20210A gene variant, in which OCT-A was used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. CASE PRESENTATION: 55-year-old woman with a history of central retinal artery occlusion in her right eye and prothrombin gene G20210A (F2) variant diagnosis. She presented to our consultation with amaurosis fugax in her left eye. As medical history, she had an episode of bilateral posterior scleritis diagnosed asynchronously with the current episode. Vascular, autoimmune, and metabolic prothrombotic diseases were ruled out. OCT-A showed areas suggesting acute ischemia consistent with macular retinopathy in her left eye. Anticoagulant therapy with Apixaban was initiated, considering the risk for her vision. Control OCT-A showed perfusion improvement in the previous site of the occlusive vascular event. We also considered the extent of the inflammatory response due to posterior scleritis as a differential diagnosis. Nevertheless, it is less likely, considering the temporality between scleritis and the retinal-vascular episodes. CONCLUSIONS: While the G20210A prothrombin gene (F2) variant is a rare cause of retinal artery occlusion, it is important to consider it a differential diagnosis. Good visual outcomes can be achieved with prompt initiation of antithrombotic treatment. In addition, OCT-A is useful for diagnosing ischemic retinal changes that cannot be observed with other diagnostic methods and monitoring them.

Pulmonary nodules and nodular scleritis in a teenager with superficial granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum.

Superficial granulomatous pyoderma gangrenosum, a rare variant of pyoderma gangrenosum, has been considered to be the most benign form of the disease. We present the case of a 15-year-old boy with pulmonary involvement and nodular scleritis associated with this unusual type of pyoderma gangrenosum and discuss its differential diagnosis.

[Posterior scleritis: clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients]. / Esclerite posterior: características clínicas, associação sistêmica, tratamento e evolução de 23 pacientes.

PURPOSE: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients with posterior scleritis evaluated in the Uveitis service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. METHODS: 23 patients were identified with the diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were female and seven were male with mean age of 44,7 years. Posterior scleritis occurred in association with anterior scleritis in 10 patients, unilateral involvement in 17 patients and simultaneous bilateral involvement in 6 patients. Posterior scleritis in association with systemic disease occurred in 8 patients (Cogan's syndrome, TBC, Wegener, Herpes simplex and Zoster, Apergilosis, inflamatory bowel disease and Sarcoidosis). The main symptoms were ocular pain and decrease of visual acuity and the main signal was retinal serous detachment. Increase of thickness choroidal tissue was the main signal in B-mode ultrasonography in 18 patients and the principal kind of treatment was the use of systemic corticosteroids. Only 4 patients required systemic immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior scleritis still represents a diagnostic challenge and is often associated with life threatening systemic disease and vision threatening ocular complications. Knowledge of posterior scleritis may aid in determining timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of both ocular and any systemic conditions associated, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. Elevated suspicion rate is always required to detect this condition.

Esclerite posterior: características clínicas, associação sistêmica, tratamento e evolução de 23 pacientes / Posterior scleritis: clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients

OBJETIVOS: Documentar características clínicas, associações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução de 23 pacientes com esclerite posterior, examinados no serviço de uveítes da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. MÉTODOS: Revisão de todos os pacientes com esclerite atendidos neste serviço, de 1999 até 2006, para identificar aqueles com esclerite posterior. Identificados 23 pacientes, registrados e analisados os dados com relação aos sinais e sintomas oculares, visão, alterações na ecografia, manifestações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução. RESULTADOS: Dezesseis pacientes do sexo feminino e 7 do sexo masculino com média de idade de 44,7 anos. Esclerite posterior ocorreu associada à esclerite anterior em 10 pacientes, envolvimento unilateral em 17 pacientes e, bilateral simultâneo, em 6 pacientes. Esclerite posterior associada à doença sistêmica ocorreu em 8 pacientes (síndrome de Cogan, tuberculose, granulomatose de Wegener, herpes simples e zoster, aspergilose, retocolite-ulcerativa e sarcoidose). A principal queixa foi dor ocular seguida de embaçamento visual e o sinal fundoscópico que predominou foi o descolamento seroso de retina. O achado mais comum na ecografia foi espessamento da parede escleral observado em 18 pacientes e a principal forma de tratamento, o uso de corticóide sistêmico. Somente 4 pacientes necessitaram de imunossupressor. CONCLUSÃO: Esclerite posterior é doença de difícil diagnóstico e pode ser potencialmente devastadora. Análises estatísticas são incapazes de revelar outras características específicas da esclerite posterior, características clínicas dos pacientes e evolução da doença que poderiam ajudar na identificação dos casos com maior risco de perda visual ou com maior probabilidade de doença sistêmica.

PURPOSE: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients with posterior scleritis evaluated in the Uveitis service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. METHODS: 23 patients were identified with the diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were female and seven were male with mean age of 44,7 years. Posterior scleritis occurred in association with anterior scleritis in 10 patients, unilateral involvement in 17 patients and simultaneous bilateral involvement in 6 patients. Posterior scleritis in association with systemic disease occurred in 8 patients (Cogan's syndrome, TBC, Wegener, Herpes simplex and Zoster, Apergilosis, inflamatory bowel disease and Sarcoidosis). The main symptoms were ocular pain and decrease of visual acuity and the main signal was retinal serous detachment. Increase of thickness choroidal tissue was the main signal in B-mode ultrasonography in 18 patients and the principal kind of treatment was the use of systemic corticosteroids. Only 4 patients required systemic immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior scleritis still represents a diagnostic challenge and is often associated with life threatening systemic disease and vision threatening ocular complications. Knowledge of posterior scleritis may aid in determining timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of both ocular and any systemic conditions associated, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. Elevated suspicion rate is always required to detect this condition.

Esclerite associada ao uso de bisfosfonatos / Scleritis related to the use of bisphosphonates

Alertar para o fato de que os bisfosfonatos, importante classe de drogas utilizada no tratamento da osteoporose, podem causar esclerite. Relatamos caso de uma paciente que apresentou episódio de esclerite durante o uso de alendronato e que recidivou com o uso de outra droga da mesma classe, o risedronato, um ano depois. Os bisfosfonatos constituem uma classe de drogas que tem sido, frequentemente, utilizada no tratamento da osteoporose. No entanto, boa parte da classe médica pode não estar alerta para os efeitos colaterais oculares, tendo em vista que não se encontrou relato desses efeitos na literatura nacional. Este trabalho mostra dois episódios de esclerite, ocorridos em uma mesma paciente, com intervalo de, aproximadamente, um ano, possivelmente, provocados pelo uso de dois tipos de bisfosfonatos. Nas duas ocasiões, houve resposta favorável à suspensão da droga, com a utilização de um tratamento pouco agressivo. Esse fato justificou a não realização da pesquisa de doenças consideradas causas de esclerite, das quais a paciente não apresentava sinais, sintomas, assim como qualquer história pregressa. Tudo isso, associado à existência, na literatura internacional, de relatos de casos de inflamação ocular, inclusive de esclerite, relacionados com o uso dos bisfosfonatos, reforça a hipótese de que os episódios, realmente, tenham sido provocados pelo uso da droga.

To alert to the fact that bisphosphonates, important class of drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis, can cause scleritis. Report of a female patient's case, who presented an episode of scleritis while using alendronate, and who had one year later another episode during the use of a drug from the same class, risedronate. The bisphosphonates are a class of drugs, which have been used very often in the treatment of osteoporosis. However, a great part of the physicians can not be alert for its ocular side effects, considering that in the national literature there's no report of these effects. This article report two episodes of scleritis, occurred to a patient, in a period of one year, probably caused by the use of two types of bisphosphonates. In these two opportunities, there was recovery after the suspension of the drug, associated with a less aggressive treatment. This fact justified not to perform the search for diseases considered to be the cause of scleritis, of which the patient didn't show any sign, symptom or past clinical history. These facts, associated to the existence of some reports of ocular inflammation, including scleritis, associated to the use of bisphosphonates, reinforces the hypothesis that the episodes, in fact, have been caused by the use of the drug.

Posterior scleritis in Cogan's syndrome.

PURPOSE: To describe an unusual case of atypical Cogan's syndrome with features of posterior scleritis. METHODS: Interventional case report. RESULTS: A 53-year-old man presented with bilateral posterior scleritis, along with sensorineural hearing loss and systemic vasculitis. Systemic corticosteroid therapy was started with resolution of ophthalmic findings and improvement of vestibuloauditory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of atypical Cogan's syndrome, ophthalmic manifestations may be the first sign of disease.

Características clínicas y respuestas al tratamiento sistémico de la epiescleritis y escleritis primarias y secundarias, refractarias al tratamiento local / Clinical feactures and response to systemic treatment in episcleritis and scleritis resistent to local treatment

Background: Scleritis and episcleritis may extend to adjacent ocular tissues with blinding consequences and may be associated with potentially lethal systemic disorders. Aim: To evaluate the ocular complications and systemic disease associations of the different types of scleritis and episcleritis. Patients and methods: Forty six patients with refractory scleritis and episcleritis were studied and treated during the period 1991 to 1998. Results: Necrotizing type was the most common and severe category in the scleritis group of patients. A decrease in vision occurred in 58.3 percent of patients with scleritis v/s a 23.5 percent of patients with epiescleritis (p<0,05). Uveitis was present in 35.4 percent of patients with scleritis and scleromalacia was present in 33.3 percent (p<0,05). A specific disease association was uncovered in 51 percent of scleritis and in 38 percent of episcleritis patients. Rheumatoid arthritis, primary systemic vasculitic disease and Sjsgren syndrome with vasculitis were the most common associated systemic diseases. Three patients with scleritis had tuberculosis. Conclusions: Scleritis is more severe than episcleritis, and necrotizing scleritis is the most severe type of scleritis. Classification of scleritis and episcleritis provides valuable prognostic information. A meticulous approach for the detection of a specific associated disease must be undertaken. Scleritis associated with vasculitis has a worse ocular prognosis than other non infectious diseases. Cyclophosphamide is the most effective inmunosuppresive treatment to control severe ocular involvement

[Clinical features and response to systemic treatment of primary and secondary episcleritis and scleritis resistant to local treatment]. / Características clínicas y respuesta al tratamiento sistémico de la epiescleritis y escleritis primarias y secundarias, refractarias al tratamiento local.

BACKGROUND: Scleritis and episcleritis may extend to adjacent ocular tissues with blinding consequences and may be associated with potentially lethal systemic disorders. AIM: To evaluate the ocular complications and systemic disease associations of the different types of scleritis and episcleritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty six patients with refractory scleritis and episcleritis were studied and treated during the period 1991 to 1998. RESULTS: Necrotizing type was the most common and severe category in the scleritis group of patients. A decrease in vision occurred in 58.3% of patients with scleritis v/s a 23.5% of patients with epiescleritis (p < 0.05). Uveitis was present in 35.4% of patients with scleritis and scleromalacia was present in 33.3% (p < 0.05). A specific disease association was uncovered in 51% of scleritis and in 38% of episcleritis patients. Rheumatoid arthritis, primary systemic vasculitic disease and Sjögren syndrome with vasculitis were the most common associated systemic diseases. Three patients with scleritis had tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Scleritis is more severe than episcleritis, and necrotizing scleritis is the most severe type of scleritis. Classification of scleritis and episcleritis provides valuable prognostic information. A meticulous approach for the detection of a specific associated disease must be undertaken. Scleritis associated with vasculitis has a worse ocular prognosis than other non infectious diseases. Cyclophosphamide is the most effective immunosuppressive treatment to control severe ocular involvement.

Uveíte e papilite associada à doença de Crohn / Uveitis and papilitis in Crohn's disease

Descreve-se um caso de uveíte e papilite em uma paciente portadora de Doença de Crohn assintomática, tratada com midriático e corticosteróide tópico com boa recuperaçäo visual. A avaliaçäo gastroenterológica descobriu atividade intestinal da doença, iniciando-se tratamento sistêmico com sulfasalazina e corticosteróide. O acometimento ocular em Doença de Crohn encontrado em 4 a 10 por cento dos casos, sendo pouco citado em nossa literatura. Salientamos as características do acometimento ocular em portadores de Doença de Crohn e a importância do acompanhamento oftalmológico como auxiliar na determinaçäo da atividade da doença

Alteraçöes oculares na artrite reumatóide / Alteraçöes de fundo de olho nas hematopatias / Ocular alterations in the rheumatoid arthritis

O autor realizou este trabalho, com o objetivo básico de verificar quais as estruturas oculares que eram comprometidas na Artrite Reumatoide, e qual a incidência dessas complicaçöes. Foram estudados 30 pacientes com diagnóstico definitivo de Artrite Reumatoide, 28 dos quais eram do sexo feminino. Cada estrutura ocular foi avaliada. De toda a amostra, 12 pacientes (40%) apresentaram alguma complicaçäo, sendo mais evidente a Ceratoconjuntivite "sicca" (40%), porém com envolvimento corneano em apenas 2 casos (7%). Esclerite, numa forma mais benigna - esclerite nodular, em 6 pacientes (20%), e apenas um paciente com uma forma mais severa - episclerite nodular necrotizante. Episclerite ocorreu em 3 pacientes (10%). O diagnóstico de "dry eye" foi feito utilizando-se do Teste de Schirmer e do corante Rosa de Bengala, sendo que este último teve maior valor diagnóstico. O aparecimentodas complicaçöes, ou agravamento das mesmas, näo tiveram relaçäo com o tempo de duraçäo da doença sistêmica mas sim se a mesma estava compensada ou näo