Comparison of Congenital Rubella Syndrome Cases at a Philippine Tertiary Hospital from 2009-2012 to 2019-2022

Background and Objective@#The Philippines does not have a national congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) surveillance or registry. Regular monitoring of CRS cases in hospitals, including in a Philippine tertiary hospital, helped in the past to provide clinico-epidemiologic data on CRS. This study aimed to continue providing clinico-epidemiologic data on CRS cases seen in the Philippine tertiary hospital from 2009-2012 and 2019-2022 and compare the cases seen from said timelines.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was used, employing chart review of patients newly diagnosed with CRS from 2009-2012 and 2019-2022 in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the Philippine tertiary hospital.@*Results@#Forty-two patients newly diagnosed with CRS from 2009-2012 and 2019-2022 were included. Only 14 (33%) were serologically-confirmed cases (albeit qualitatively). Median age (first and third interquartile ranges) at consult was 1 year (0.4, 2.5). Twenty-four (57%) patients had maternal history of rashes and/or fever. Trimester of pregnancy when mother became symptomatic was not significantly correlated with chief complaint (p=0.20) and numbers of ophthalmic (p=0.68) and systemic manifestations (p=0.32). Cataract was the most common ophthalmic manifestation present in 40 (95%) patients. Twenty-six (62%) patients had other associated systemic findings of which hearing loss was the most common. Only 29 of 40 patients with cataract underwent lensectomy, with 23 patients having poor visual prognosis prior to surgery (5 with nystagmus alone, 10 with nystagmus and strabismus, and 8 with strabismus alone). @*Discussion@#Using ophthalmic manifestations as primary indicator, this study provided an update on the CRS cases in the country. Laboratory confirmation remains a challenge in diagnosing CRS as the tests are costly and not widely available. There was increase from 2009-2012 compared to 2019-2022 in number of patients who underwent surgical treatment for cataract but visual outcomes were suboptimal due to delay in consultation. Although there was a decrease in number of CRS cases seen in the Philippine tertiary hospital, this cannot be attributed to increased rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) coverage alone. @*Conclusion@#Provision of data from individual hospital-based studies similar to this highlights the need for a national CRS surveillance system or registry. This can better gauge the burden of CRS and identify the gap in RCV coverage.

Retinoblastoma in the Southern Philippines: Clinical outcomes of retinoblastoma patients in a Davao Tertiary Hospital

Background@#Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer in childhood in the Philippines. Most data though on demographics, clinical profile, treatment options, and outcomes in the country are from the National Capital Region. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to describe the demographics, clinical profile, treatment done, and outcomes of retinoblastoma patients seen in a public tertiary referral center in Davao from 2011-2020 to make available literature more representative of the status of retinoblastoma in the Philippines. @*Methods@#An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using the records of retinoblastoma patients seen in a tertiary government hospital located in Davao Region from January 2011 to December 2020. @*Results@#There were 157 patients included in the analysis. Seventy-three (46%) were female with 44% coming from the Davao Region. One hundred seven (69%) patients had unilateral disease. Median age at initial consultation for patients with unilateral disease was significantly older than those with bilateral disease (p<0.003). Tumors were extraocular in 82 (40%) eyes. In the intraocular group, 36% of the eyes belonged to International Classification of Retinoblastoma (ICRB) Groups D and E. Enucleation was the most commonly performed treatment. Survival rate was 28%. This is the first report to provide epidemiologic and clinical data on retinoblastoma in the literature, including survival data, from Mindanao. Advanced stages and extraocular cases of retinoblastoma remain high. Delay of consultation contributed to the prognosis and clinical outcome of the disease.@*@#Conclusion. Advanced stages and extraocular cases of retinoblastoma remain significantly high in the country, even in Mindanao.

A case report of inferior oblique reattachment after Inferomedial Orbital Wall Reconstruction from Total Maxillectom

@#The detachment and reattachment of inferior oblique (IO) have been done by ophthalmologists in inferomedial orbital wall fracture repair to avoid inducing a new diplopia in patients post-operatively. However, doing them in orbital wall reconstruction in patient who underwent maxillectomy for a malignancy has not been described yet. We describe a case where a disinserted inferior oblique was reattached after titanium mesh implantation to prevent diplopia after the surgery. This is the case of a 40-year-old male diagnosed with recurrent bilateral nasomaxillary ameloblastoma who underwent total maxillectomy of the right with removal of the inferomedial orbital wall, and detachment and reattachment of inferior oblique with no resulting inferior oblique palsy and diplopia from hypotropia or incyclotorsion. This is the first report, to our knowledge, to describe reattachment of IO in its approximate insertion during reconstruction of the inferomedial orbital wall after total maxillectomy from a malignancy with no resulting diplopia.

A case report of a Filipino boy with childhood cataract and clinically diagnosed Roberts Syndrome

@#Childhood cataract is a common cause of visual impairment. Familial types are uncommon among Filipinos. Furthermore, it is not common to have one that follows an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance but with associated syndromic presentation like Roberts syndrome which is an autosomal recessive disorder. This is a case of a 9-year-old Filipino boy with cataract in the left eye associated with low-set ears, facial asymmetry, underdeveloped nasal ala, cleft lip and palate, macroglossia, micrognathia, short right shin, and absent feet. Patient was clinically diagnosed with Roberts syndrome. We present a clinically diagnosed Roberts syndrome (RS), the first reported RS in a Filipino in local and international literature to our knowledge with an autosomal dominant childhood cataract. Genetic testing can assist in the confirmation of this case.

On addressing the burden of uncorrected refractive errors

@#Uncorrected or unaddressed refractive error (URE) is the leading cause of treatable visual impairment (VI) globally. A significant factor is the prohibitive costs of corrective options. The World Health Organization recently recommended the use of effective refractive error coverage (eREC) to determine the burden and management of URE. To increase eREC, spectacles should be made available and affordable. Most developing countries use ready-made glasses produced in bulk to address presbyopia. Timor-Leste employed a tiered- pricing for these ready-made spectacles which were found to be effective. The Philippines can adopt similar initiatives considering that prescription spectacles are not covered by its national health insurance. Prescription spectacles should also receive coverage from the national insurance. Policies should also be created that will set-up optical units inside government hospitals and primary health care units that can dispense low cost or free prescription spectacles. Dedicated government posts for optometrists should be created to man the said units. Existing colleges of optometry can partner with nearby public health facilities to man their optical units similar to partnerships made for other health professions. State universities can also consider opening colleges of optometry where they can tie up return services conditions or follow ladderized programs based on community demands similar to existing ones for other health professions

Shortening training duration to address the insufficiency of Ophthalmologists: A deeper look at the China experience

@#The availability of ophthalmologists is vital to making eyecare accessible to everyone. Medical education and ophthalmology residency training in China was reduced to address the high demand for ophthalmologists. This is something the Philippines can consider to increase the number of ophthalmologists in the country. However, decreasing the duration, together with insufficient monitoring of medical education and ophthalmology residency training, were not without consequences in eyecare in China.

Isolated pupillary-sparing cranial nerve III palsy from a subgaleal abscess

@#Cranial nerve (CN) III palsy is rarely caused by intraorbital compression, let alone from a subgaleal abscess. We present a case of a hypertensive 55-year-old man with an acute isolated pupillary-sparing left CN III palsy from a left subgaleal abscess with associated pterional osteomyelitis and frontotemporal mass. This is the first reported such case and the third reported case of a chronic spontaneous subgaleal abscess. A seemingly routine case of an acute, pupillary-sparing, isolated CN III palsy from hypertension turned out to be a rare case in terms of etiology of the palsy and of the source of the abscess.

Intravitreous chemotherapy as adjuvant rteatment for vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma: A Philippine tertiary hospital experience

Background@#Intravitreal chemotherapy has been an effective addition in treating vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma. However, it was only in 2020 that it was used in the Philippines. There is no literature on its use in multiple Filipino retinoblastoma patients. @*Objectives@#To describe the clinical course of the four patients who are the first to undergo intravitreal chemotherapy for vitreous seeding of retinoblastoma in the Philippine tertiary hospital.@*Methods@#A case series of four eyes of four patients with retinoblastoma who underwent intravitreous injection of melphalan and topotecan for vitreous seeding at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of a Philippine tertiary hospital. @*Results@#Two eyes, with International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification (IIRC) Group C with vitreous seeding, responded well to intravitreous melphalan and topotecan. One eye had recurrent vitreous seeding despite 10 intravitreal injections. One eye with IIRC Group E, did not respond to intravitreous chemotherapy and was eventually enucleated. This is the first case series on the local use of intravitreous chemotherapy in the country for vitreous seeding in retinoblastoma. The control of 50% achieved in this case series is lower than in other series due to longer treatment interval from poor follow-up and the presence of advanced disease.@*Conclusion@#The use of intravitreous melphalan and topotecan can be an effective adjuvant for systemic chemotherapy in controlling vitreous seeding in eyes with IIRC Group C. It is not effective in controlling IIRC Group E disease.

A severe case of netherton syndrome in a Filipino child

Objective@#To present a rare case of Netherton Syndrome (NS) in a Filipino child. @*Case@#This is a case of an 11-year-old girl with elevated immunoglobulin E, trichorrhexis nodosa, and ichthyosis linearis circumflexa. She had dry skin with fine scaling at birth with recurrent pruritic, erythematous papules coalescing to plaques mainly on the face and extensors. The skin dryness turned to generalized redness with fine scaling, and the skin started getting tight. She could no longer completely extend both knees, but she was still able to walk. She also started having difficulty closing both eyes. She developed migratory serpiginous erythematous plaques with peripheral double-edged scaling. At six years old, she developed ulcers in the scalp, trunk, and extremities, which resulted in admission to our institution. She was managed for multiple skin infections, pneumonia, sepsis, seizure, severe malnutrition, joint contracture, atopy, and bilateral cicatricial ectropion.@*Conclusion@#Management of NS remains challenging. Common management options include emollients, topical corticosteroids, calcineurin, and protease inhibitor, and phototherapy while newer ones that need further validation include intravenous immunoglobulins and biologics such as infliximab. However, until specific recommendations are made, overall management for NS remains challenging. Regular multidisciplinary monitoring of the manifestations of NS is central to its management.

The cost of managing congenital rubella syndrome in a tertiary government hospital in Northern Luzon, Philippines

Background@#Infants with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) often require multiple diagnostic procedures and interventions that include cataract surgery and procedures for congenital heart abnormalities. CRS is a vaccine preventable disease.@*Objective@#This study aimed to determine the costs incurred by the parents, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), hospital's medical social service (MSS), and non-governmental organization (NGO) in the management of CRS.@*Methods@#This is a costing study of five children diagnosed with probable CRS who were managed in a tertiary government hospital in Northern Luzon, Philippines. The parents or guardians of the patients were interviewed on the cost incurred particularly on non-medical related expenses during their outpatient department consultations and admissions. Hospital bills from our institutions and those from the previous institutions, if available, were retrieved. Expenses incurred from procedures or medical supplies relating to known complications of CRS were included in the computation.@*Results@#All five patients diagnosed with CRS had cardiac, ear, and eye manifestations. Two patients had postnatal complications. The average cost spent by the five patients' early years of life (mean age of patients was 16 ± 14 months) was ₱409,740.84. A quarter of the cost was out-of-pocket expenses while a third was covered by the hospital's MSS where the patients were seen. Another third was shouldered by an NGO. Most expenses were from the treatment of cardiac complications at 42% of the cost and had the highest average cost at ₱116,586.59. Case 1 had the highest financial cost at ₱833,514.24 mainly from the cardiac complications of CRS.@*Conclusion@#The cost of CRS in the early years of life is high. This is a significant financial burden to parents, PHIC, hospital's MSS, and NGO.

Depression among and access to mental care of young Filipino ophthalmologists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective@#This study determined the prevalence of depression among young ophthalmologists during the COVID-19 pandemic and determined their access to mental healthcare. @*Methodology@#In this cross-sectional study, members of the Philippine Network of Young Ophthalmologists were surveyed using an online Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a short self-administered tool which included questions related to their current work to assess depression. The respondents were also asked if there was available, accessible, affordable, adequate, and acceptable mental healthcare to them answerable by yes, no, or maybe. @*Results@#Seventy (70) respondents were included in the analysis. The mean age was 33±5 years with 54% being female. Forty-five (45) or 64% were resident trainees with a mean number of years in the training of 2±1 years. The median score for the PHQ-9 was 6.5 (3,12). Forty-two (42) or 60% of the respondents had some degree of depression. Nine (9) or 13% of the respondents had no available service, 6 (9%) had no accessible service, 7 (10%) had no affordable service, and 4 (6%) had no adequate service for mental healthcare for them. @*Conclusion@#More than half of the ophthalmologists-in-training and newly practicing suffered from some degree of depression based on the PHQ-9 questionnaire. A significant proportion was either not sure or do not have available, accessible, affordable, and adequate mental healthcare services for them.

Clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of retinoblastoma in India: A literature review

Background@#India has the highest incidence of retinoblastoma globally and is one of the six Asian countries identified to contribute 43% to the global retinoblastoma cases. Data on clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes were reviewed which can serve as basis in the creation of clinical guidelines, policies and programs, and resource allocation in the diagnosis and management of retinoblastoma in India. @*Methodology@#Articles on retinoblastoma in India gathered from different databases were reviewed for clinical features, treatment, and outcomes. @*Result@#Fourteen articles with 3,666 patients involving around 4,945 eyes seen from 1983-2017 were reviewed. The median age at consult ranged from 14-48 months. The median delay of consult ranged from 2-9 months. Majority of the patients were males (59%) and unilateral disease was present in 63%. Family history was reported in 4%. Retinoblastoma was intraocular in at least 75% of eyes. Systemic chemotherapy was the most used treatment option given to >2,042 eyes. Enucleation was done in >1,695 eyes. The mean follow-up period ranged from 4-50 months. Three hundred fifty six (356) patients were lost to follow-up. The functional vision was retained in 134 eyes. The globe salvage rate for Group A was 100%, 94-100% for Group B, and 50-100% in Group C. The highest globe salvage rate for Group D eyes was 85% and 58% for group E. The overall survival rate was 75% (2,233 patients).@*Conclusion@#Common among the articles was the relatively high proportion of extraocular disease attributed to delay in consult attributed to financial factors and lack of knowledge on the disease.

Factors affecting visual outcomes of children with open globe injury

Objective@#This study described the demographics of pediatric patients who sustained open globe injuries, determined the visual outcome of open globe injuries in pediatric patients and the factors associated with final visual acuity. @*Methodology@#The medical charts of 195 patients aged 0-18 years seen for open globe injury in a Philippine tertiary hospital for three years were reviewed. @*Results@#The average age of patients was 7.9 years with 41% belonging to the 5-9 years old group. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the patients were males. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the open globe injuries were accidental, mostly from play (67%). The most common agents of injury were metallic objects (42%) followed by wooden objects (24%). The cornea was injured in 80% of the cases, cornea and sclera in 10%, sclera in 7%, and globe rupture in 3%. Eighty-six percent (86%) of the patients underwent surgery. Initial visual acuity was associated with the presence of complication and the site of injury. Final visual acuity was associated with the initial visual acuity, the interval from injury to consultation, the site of injury, and the presence of complications. @*Conclusions@#The majority of the injuries were accidental and thus avoidable. The education of parents and caregivers on proper storage of potentially harmful objects at home and proper supervision of children at play are important in addition to early consultation after the injury as well as a timely intervention.

Challenges in managing cataract from Congenital Rubella Syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic

@#Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) cases being seen in a tertiary hospital in Baguio rose in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its communicability presented logistical challenges to the hospital as additional contact and droplet precautions, including COVID-19 RT-PCR testing, were needed to be observed to prevent rubella transmission. The operations of the institute have also been disrupted and compromised since its space and resources were diverted to the pandemic response. A probable rubella transmission occurred when a patient with CRS was admitted for cataract surgery but was delayed due to the COVID-19 RT-PCR test requirement. Another patient admitted from the Outpatient Department on the same day developed maculopapular rashes for three days during admission but with no febrile episodes and lymphadenopathy. These cases showed how managing CRS cataracts got complicated by the current COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in the review and proposal to revise current hospital policies to minimize the exposure of vulnerable individuals and prevent future transmission.

Time reduction of new patient consultation at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of a Philippine Tertiary Hospital

Objective@#To decrease the total time spent of new patients on a General Clinic consult at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of a Philippine Tertiary Hospital. @*Methods@#A time quality management team was formed. The description of the process of a General Clinic new patient consult was elucidated and was consolidated in a data collection form. Convenience sampling of the population was done. The collection and analysis of the data were done with institution of interventions to address the factors causing the prolonged consultation visit; then, pre-intervention analysis, post-intervention analysis and comparison were done. @*Results@#Thirty-five new patients were tracked prior to and after intervention. Among the identified causes for prolonged new patient consult were delay in temporary chart, front of chart and blue card issuance, insufficient examination tools and resident dedicated to the General Clinic, unnecessary examination and patient not being around when called. Most causes were addressed. A mean decrease of 68±112 minutes or approximately 18% in total time stay was noted. @*Conclusion@#This study showed that the total consultation time of a new patient in General Clinic decreased. This was achieved with the help of most of the personnel involved in the system after identifying factors causing the prolonged consultation visit and instituting interventions to address these identified factors. The improvement in health service delivery was taken as a step by step process. A preliminary step was demonstrated in this paper for future interventions for better service delivery.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection initially managed as Congenital Rubella Syndrome

@#Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (cCMV) is challenging to differentiate from congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) clinically. Virus detection and serological tests are needed. However, they are often not readily available or are expensive. This is a case of a five-month-old male with bilateral cataracts. He was jaundiced at birth and started having seizure episodes at one month of age. He was also diagnosed with right inguinal hernia and had abnormal bilateral hearing tests. Both eyes were noted to have leukocoria at two months of age. There was dazzle on both eyes and sclerae were anicteric. Examination revealed dense cataracts on both eyes, but their ocular ultrasound results were essentially normal. Due to the bilateral hearing loss and bilateral cataracts, CRS was initially considered despite the absence of heart abnormality since there were reported CRS cases without the complete triad. However, possible coinfection or another disease was considered due to the presence of jaundice, seizures, and hernia, which were never seen in our previous CRS patients nor were reported in the literature. The patient underwent cataract extraction on both eyes without intraocular lens implantation (IOL) as recommended for CRS cataracts to prevent severe inflammation. TORCH (TOxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex) test was negative for rubella but positive for CMV. As such, the patient would have benefitted from early IOL implantation. The patient was then referred to a national medical center for possible treatment. However, since the patient already tested negative for CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) there, systemic antiviral therapy was no longer initiated. This case presented the challenge of clinically differentiating cCMV and CRS.

A clinically diagnosed congenital Rubella Syndrome and congenital Cytomegalovirus co-infection

@#This is a case of a four-month-old female infant who presented with clinical manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) — bilateral cataracts, poorly-dilating pupils, microcorneas, salt and pepper retinopathies seen after cataract extractions, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, patent ductus arteriosus, microcephaly, history of blueberry spots and low birth weight, and positive serum IgM and IgG tests for rubella. The patient’s mother also had prenatal rubella infection. However, the patient also presented with additional set of clinical findings not seen in recent patients with CRS and not commonly reported in literature: visual acuities of poor to no dazzle, bilateral choroidal thickening on ocular ultrasound that spontaneously resolved, optic nerve inflammation that became atrophic, vessel tortuosities seen after cataract extractions, bilateral subependymal cysts with lenticulostriate vasculopathy in basal ganglia, basal ganglia hyperintensity suggestive of calcification, and jaundice. These findings plus the overlapping clinical manifestations with CRS and the positive IgM and IgG for cytomegalovirus (CMV) made us consider a congenital CMV co-infection. CRS already causes significant childhood morbidity. Getting co-infected with CMV in utero worsens morbidity and makes management more difficult. This case presented a congenital co-infection of rubella and CMV and discussed the added challenges in their diagnosis and management.

Refractive changes after intraocular lens implantation in post-cataract extraction children in a Philippine Tertiary Hospital

Objective@#To determine refractive changes in children post-cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation at a Philippine tertiary hospital. @*Methods@#This is a retrospective cohort study involving patients aged 1 to 10 years in the Department of Ophthalmology of a Philippine tertiary hospital who underwent cataract extraction and IOL implantation between 2004 to 2013. @*Results@#We included 55 eyes of 34 patients in the analysis. Thirty-eight eyes (69%) eyes underwent primary IOL implantation. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.5 ± 2.1 years. The median refractive changes were -2.00 (-2.50, -0.50) diopters (D) for the 1- to 3-year-old group, -1.25 (-1.50, -0.25) D for the 4- to 7-year-old group, and -1.00 (-1.63, -0.25) D for the 8- to 10-year-old group. Only the 1- to 3-year-old group had significant difference between the initial post-operative refraction and the latest follow-up refraction (p<0.001). For the primary implantation group, patients in the 1- to 3-year-old group had the highest median refractive change at -2.00 (-3.125, -1.00) D while patients in the 8- to 10-year-old group had the highest median refractive change at -2.12 (-2.56, -1.69) D in the secondary implantation group. Refractions of eyes with IOL-implanted and normal eyes showed a median difference of -1.00 (-0.25, -3.5) D. @*Conclusion@#The determination of the power of IOL implants in pediatric patients who underwent cataract extraction remains challenging despite availability of recommendations.