[Recovery of sickle cell disease ischemic maculopathy after erythropheresis: a clinical case study]. / Maculopathie ischémique drépanocytaire résolutive après échange érythrocytaire.

The authors report a case of a young patient with a recent decrease in unilateral vision. He had homozygote sickle cell disease with multiple general complications. Fundus examination was normal apart from a mild alteration of the macular reflect in the left eye, but fluorescein angiography showed multiple arteriolar macular occlusions, explaining the decrease in vision in the left eye. After erythropheresis, vision acuity improved and fluorescein angiography showed reperfusion. This case suggests that transfusional exchange may improve acute macular ischemia secondary to sickle cell disease.

[Syphilitic chorioretinitis in the immunocompromised patient: a case report]. / Choriorétinite syphilitique chez l'immunodéprimé

Syphilitic chorioretinitis is a rare manifestation of secondary syphilis. The Authors report a case of a patient tested positive for human immune deficiency virus. A 26-Year-old man presented with a history of suddenly blurred vision in the right eye. Because of a central scotoma, visual acuity was reduced to counting fingers. Slit-lamp examination found one-plus anterior chamber cells and one-plus vitreous cells. Results of ophthalmoscopic examination showed a large yellow lesion in the macular area with a papillar edema and peripheral vasculitis. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for syphilitic serology. Visual acuity improved to 20/20 after three courses of intravenous ceftriaxone (2g/day for 15 days). The fundus lesion resolved almost completely, resulting in slight pigmentary changes in the macular area. This case report highlights the need for syphilitic serology in cases of uveitis in immunocompromised patients.

[Circumstances of choroid and ciliary body melanoma detection]. / Circonstances de découvertes des mélanomes de la choroïde et du corps ciliaire.

PURPOSE: To report and analyze the circumstances of uveal melanoma detection. METHODS: The records of 143 consecutive patients diagnosed in the Ophthalmology Department of Gustave Roussy Institute between September 1994 and September 2001 were analyzed. The study included 66 females and 77 males, aged from 21 to 91 years (mean, 62.75 years). RESULTS: The first symptom was decreased visual acuity in 37% of cases. In 34.9%, there was no functional sign and a systematic fundus exam provided the diagnosis. Of the 143 patients, 18.8% presented alteration of the visual field or scotoma, 9.9% complained of phosphenes, 9% complained of metamorphopsia, and 6.5% complained of floaters. In 5.5% of cases, there was documented tumor growth. In 2%, the presence of extrascleral exteriorization was the first sign. At the time of diagnosis, anterior tumors tended to be significantly larger than posterior tumors (p<0.007). Smaller lesions were significantly associated with a systematic detection of the tumor (p<0.005). Liver metastasis occurred more frequently with ciliary body melanomas (p<0.001), which were more frequently the largest lesions. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize the importance of early detection of uveal melanoma. We recommended frequent fundus examination after pupil dilatation.

[Characteristics of uveitis presenting de novo in the elderly]. / Caractéristiques des uvéites de novo chez les patients de plus de 60 ans.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of uveitis presenting de novo in the elderly. The study design was a description of a retrospectively identified case series. PATIENTS: The records of 193 patients with uveitis referred to Bicêtre Hospital's department of ophthalmology between January 1995 and January 2000 were reviewed. Among these patients, the records of 57 patients with uveitis de novo beginning after age 60 were analyzed. RESULTS: Idiopathic uveitis accounted for the majority of cases. Whereas herpes viruses were the most frequent specific diagnosis, presumed sarcoidosis and birdshot choroidopathy were also identified as diagnostic entities of uveitis presenting for the first time in the elderly. Only three cases of masquerade syndrome were identified, two cases of intraocular lymphoma, and one metastasis of a visceral melanoma. CONCLUSION: Masquerade syndromes are not the leading cause of uveitis in the elderly. Idiopathic uveitis and herpes viruses are the most common etiology found.

[Iris melanomas. A retrospective study of 11 patients treated by surgical excision]. / Les mélanomes de l'iris. Etude rétrospective de 11 cas traités par excision chirurgicale.

INTRODUCTION: Iris melanoma, even when a malignant tumor, has a slow progressive course. Surgical treatment is easy because of localization of the tumor but can be accompanied by a range of complications, from photophobia to cosmetic problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 11 patients with iris melanoma treated by surgical excision with posterior limbus incision. Conventional iridectomy was performed in nine cases and iridocyclectomy in two cases. RESULTS: There were seven females and four males ranging in age from 27 to 76 years. Histologically, 10 tumors were composed of B spindle cells and one was mixed. For all patients, followed up for 1-5 years, final visual acuity was more than 6/10. One patient complained of photophobia and cataract developed in one 76-year-old woman at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Because of the good prognosis of iris melanoma, conservative treatment can be given in most of cases (without local complications). Surgical resection confirms diagnosis after histopathological examination, with good final functional result thanks to scleral tunnel incision, which induces less astigmatism than corneal incisions. In the future, these findings will have to be confirmed by a corneal topography study before and after surgery.

[The phenol red thread first results for the assessment of the cut-off value in ocular sicca syndrome]. / Le test au fil imprégné de rouge phénol.

PURPOSE: To determine the cut-off value of the phenol red-impregnated thread test (Zone-Quick((R)), Menicon trade mark ) for the diagnosis of ocular sicca syndrome using the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) procedure and to estimate the agreement with the Schirmer I test (without anesthetics). MATERIAL: and methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients (including 50 females) with dry eyes, presumably related to an immune disorder, were recruited on the basis of subjective ocular symptoms and medical history (sicca syndrome). Both the phenol red thread (PRT) test and the Schirmer I test (testing periods, 15s and 5min, respectively) were performed in both eyes in random order. Only the lowest result for each test was used in statistical analyses. The same procedure was applied to 29 normal volunteers (no subjective symptoms). The patient and the control groups were matched for age and gender (mean age, 58.1 and 59.6, respectively). RESULTS: The ROC procedure showed that a cut-off value of 12mm in the PRT test provided the best ratio between sensitivity and specificity (56% and 69%, respectively) for the detection of dry eyes. Using this threshold, the agreement with the Schirmer I test was highly significant (kappa test; P<10(-3)). However, discordant results were observed in 32% of subjects. CONCLUSION: Giving a cut-off value at 12mm, the sensitivity and specificity of the PRT are 56% and 69%, respectively. Even if the agreement with the Schirmer I test is highly significant, 32% of patients have discordant results. These two methods of functional assessment of tear secretion are therefore complementary and further studies remain necessary to better understand the place of both tests in clinical practice.

[Sturge-Weber syndrome: medical management of choroidal hemangiomas]. / Le syndrome de Sturge-Weber: prise en charge thérapeutique des hémangiomes choroïdiens.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcome of irradiation of complicated choroidal hemangiomas in Sturge-Weber syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The charts of 6 patients (7 eyes) with Sturge-Weber syndrome and choroidal hemangiomas were reviewed. An exudative retinal detachment was the indication for treatment in all cases. The mean age of the 6 patients was 13 years (range, 4 to 20 years). The minimum follow-up time was 1 year. Patients were checked for initial and final best-corrected visual acuity, fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and tumor thickness on B-scan ultrasonography. The patients were treated with radiotherapy. A total dose of 20 Grays was applied to 7 eyes: 2 with a circumscribed choroidal hemangioma underwent proton therapy and 5 with diffuse hemangioma were treated by external beam irradiation. RESULTS: Complete resolution of the subretinal fluid was achieved in all cases with the tumor height decreased. Visual acuity improved to 1 line or more in 5 eyes and remained stable in 2 eyes. Two cases that underwent proton therapy developed radiation retinopathy. CONCLUSION: External beam radiation is an effective and safe option in the management of choroidal hemangiomas complicated by retinal detachment. Based on our experience, proton therapy should be reserved for sporadic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.

[Clinical course of ocular sarcoidosis in patients with histologically proven systemic sarcoidosis]. / Evolution clinique des sarcoïdoses oculaires au cours de la sarcoïdose systémique histologiquement prouvée.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the clinical features, natural history and visual prognosis of 9 patients with histologically confirmed ocular and systemic sarcoidosis. PATIENTS: Nine patients underwent a follow-up study between 1993 and 1998. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was supported by histological evidence of non caseating epithelioid-cell granuloma in tissue biopsy. RESULTS: The mean age was 40.912 years. The mean follow-up was 22.7 months (range 6 - 54 months). The ophthalmic involvement was bilateral in 8 patients. Before treatment, 3 eyes (17.6%) had a visual acuity less than 1/10. Two eyes (11.7%) had a visual acuity less than 3/10 and 10 eyes (58.8%) more than 6/10. The anterior uveitis was granulomatous in 2 eyes (11.7%) and non granulomatous in 8 eyes (47%). Five eyes (29.4%) had a pars planitis. The posterior segment manifestations of sarcoidosis were retinal vasculitis in 7 eyes (41.1%), papillitis in 10 eyes (58.8%) and choroidal granulomas in 2 eyes (11.7%). Seven patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids. One patient was treated with steroid eye-drops. After treatment, one eye (5.8%) had a visual acuity less than 1/10 and 13 eyes more than 6/10. After treatment, the choroidal granulomas disappeared and the intra-ocular inflammation was controlled in all cases. CONCLUSION: Although the number of patients in our series is small, the prognosis for ocular sarcoidosis appears to be good.