Paraneoplastic ocular sarcoid-like reaction in the setting of pulmonary sarcoid-like reaction and lung adenocarcinoma: A case report and literature review.

Purpose: To describe ocular sarcoid-like reaction as a unique manifestation of paraneoplastic syndrome in the context of concurrent pulmonary sarcoid-like reaction and lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: Single case report and narrative review. Results: A 59-year-old male patient presented with a year-long history of diminished vision and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed panuveitis and multiple chorioretinal lesions. A CT scan of the chest revealed mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy as well as a spiculated right lower lung nodule concerning for malignancy. Subsequent bronchoscopy and biopsy confirmed lung adenocarcinoma and non-caseating granulomas in sentinel lymph nodes. Conclusion: Although pulmonary granulomatous reaction can be seen in the setting of lung malignancy, and ocular sarcoid-like reaction may present as a paraneoplastic manifestation of systemic malignancy, the presence of concomitant pulmonary and ocular sarcoid-like reactions distinguishes this case. The findings underscore the importance of a systemic workup for patients with concerning constitutional symptoms, as paraneoplastic syndromes and metastatic diseases may mimic uveitis. Recognition of paraneoplastic sarcoidosis as a potential clinical manifestation is essential, especially in patients with chronic illness indicators, necessitating a comprehensive evaluation for malignancy.

Endogenous Fungal Endophthalmitis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study and Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: To evaluate factors that inform systemic antifungal choices in patients with endogenous fungal endophthalmitis (EFE). DESIGN: Single-institution retrospective case series. METHODS: Charts of EFE patients from 2010 to 2023 were reviewed. Patients treated systemically for EFE with a minimum of 14 days of follow-up were included. Outcome measures included time to improvement in vitritis or chorioretinitis, systemic therapy modification, and need for surgical intervention. RESULTS: A total of 20 eyes of 16 patients were included. Candida species were most common (43.8%), followed by culture-negative EFE (37.5%) and Aspergillus species (18.8%). In all, 90% of eyes had vitritis and/or macula-involving chorioretinitis. The majority of Candida infections (60%) or culture-negative EFE (75%) were treated initially with oral antifungals. Patients with a history of immune compromise, positive fungal culture, or positive Fungitell assay were more likely to be treated with early intravenous (IV) antifungal therapy. Two patients required systemic antifungal therapy modification because of worsening chorioretinitis, in 1 case due to voriconazole-resistant Aspergillosis that demonstrated chorioretinal lesion growth despite intravitreal amphotericin B injections and systemic voriconazole, and in the second case due to worsening chorioretinitis from Candida dubliniensis infection that regressed upon switch from oral to IV fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS: Initial systemic treatment decisions in patients with EFE were driven by systemic culture positivity, systemic symptoms, or comorbidities. Intravitreal antifungal therapy may be insufficient to arrest progression of chorioretinal lesions in some cases. Larger studies are needed to determine whether visible end-organ damage in the form of chorioretinitis may be useful for guiding systemic therapy changes.

Current Landscape of Uveitis Specialists in the United States.

Purpose This study characterizes the current landscape of uveitis specialists and their practice settings in the United States. Methods An anonymous Internet-based survey with questions pertaining to training history and practice characteristics was distributed via REDCap to the American Uveitis Society and Young Uveitis Specialists listservs. Results Forty-eight uveitis specialists in the United States responded to the survey out of 174 uveitis specialists that identify as practicing in the United States. Twenty-five of 48 respondents (52%) completed an additional fellowship. These additional fellowships ranged from surgical retina (12/25, 48%), cornea (8/25, 32%), and medical retina (4/25, 16%). Two-thirds of uveitis specialists managed their own immunosuppression, while one-third comanaged immunosuppression with rheumatologists. Thirty-three of 48 (69%) maintained a surgical practice. Conclusion This is the first survey of uveitis specialists across the United States to provide understanding into training and practice characteristics. These data will provide insight into career planning, practice building, and assist in resource allocation.

A CASE REPORT OF CHRONIC ENDOPHTHALMITIS SECONDARY TO AQUAMICROBIUMterrae.

PURPOSE: Chronic postoperative endophthalmitis is a known complication of cataract surgery. Here, we report a case of chronic endophthalmitis following uncomplicated cataract surgery secondary to the atypical bacterium Aquamicrobium terrae . METHODS: Retrospective case report of a single patient with endophthalmitis secondary to A. terrae. RESULTS: A 61-year-old healthy patient presented with recurrent iridocyclitis following uncomplicated cataract surgery. Repeated attempts to taper off topical steroid eyedrops were unsuccessful. Anterior chamber paracentesis cultures and vitrectomy cultures grew the same gram-negative bacillus, A. terrae , on six different occasions. The patient was treated initially with a series of intravitreal ceftazidime injections and adjuvant oral minocycline with recurrence of inflammation necessitating pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular lens removal and total capsulectomy. Inflammatory episodes recurred until residual capsule fragments were ablated using endoscopic vitrectomy. Since ablation over 18 months ago, no further recurrences have occurred and the patient has excellent visual outcome. CONCLUSION: A. terrae is a gram-negative bacillus recovered from polluted soil. This is the first case of postoperative endophthalmitis secondary to A. terrae and the first description of human infection caused by this newly identified microbe.

Panuveitis Presumed Secondary to Ibrutinib Therapy.

Although a small number of cases of secondary uveitis have been documented in the setting of ibrutinib therapy, panuveitis has not previously been described with this medication. The authors describe a presumed case of panuveitis in a patient on ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The purpose of this report is to document a case of asymmetric, bilateral panuveitis in the setting of ibrutinib use. Panuveitis may develop in the setting of ibrutinib use, and local steroid therapy can be successfully used for treatment without cessation of systemic cancer therapy. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:160-164.].

Recurrence Rates of Inflammation after Switching from the Originator Infliximab to Biosimilar Infliximab-abda for Noninfectious Uveitis.

PURPOSE: To describe the frequency of ocular flares in patients with noninfectious uveitis who were switched from the originator infliximab to a biosimilar infliximab. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: All patients with noninfectious uveitis who were switched from the originator infliximab to biosimilar infliximab-abda for nonmedical reasons were reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had less than 3 months of follow-up on either drug. Data included patient demographics, infliximab dosage information, additional immunosuppression medications, and numbers of and times to flares. The main study outcome was frequency of flares, defined as new or worsening inflammatory activity on examination or imaging. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were no statistical differences between the duration of follow-up while on the originator and the duration while on the biosimilar infliximab (12.0 vs. 10.1 months, respectively; P = .307). Patients experienced more flares per person-years after switching to infliximab-abda (.92), than on the originator infliximab (0.19; P = .028). Four of the 6 patients (66.7%) who experienced flare after switching to infliximab-abda did so within 90 days. Only 1 patient had flares while on originator infliximab went on to develop a single flare on infliximab-abda. The final normalized dosage for patients who flared and remained on infliximab-abda (1.301 mg/kg/week) was higher than that for those who did not flare (1.186 mg/kg/week) but was not statistically significant (P = .417). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were switched to biosimilar infliximab-abda experience more flares than when previously treated with the originator infliximab. Providers should closely observe patients who switch to biosimilar infliximab, especially within the first 90 days. Patients who do have flares after switching may achieve quiescence with increased biosimilar dosage.

Automated measurement of leakage on wide-field angiography in the assessment of retinal vasculitis.

Automated analysis of leakage on fluorescein angiography is a measurable and clinically applicable endpoint that can be used to follow patients with posterior uveitis. A number of studies have analyzed the use of automated analysis of leakage on fluorescein angiography and are reviewed in this article.

Detection of Choroidal Neovascular Membrane Beneath Pigment Epithelial Detachment Using SD-OCTA.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To identify choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) associated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-defined pigment epithelial detachment (PED) using SD-OCT angiography (SD-OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with same-day OCT and OCTA imaging were reviewed, and 41 eyes of 29 patients with PEDs were included. OCTs were analyzed for PED type, fluid, and subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM). RESULTS: Twenty-seven eyes (66%) demonstrated CNVM on OCTA beneath all subtypes of PED. Twenty-two eyes (75.9%) with fluid or SHRM demonstrated CNVM on OCTA (P = .036). Fluid corresponded in a statistically significant manner with treatment (P = .0032), whereas SHRM did not (P = .613). OCTA-defined CNVM showed borderline statistically significant correlation to treatment (P = .05). Increased choroidal flow signal seen in 50% of eyes did not demonstrate statistically significant correlation to the presence of fluid on SD-OCT (P = .2798) or treatment decision (P = .678). A subset of 14 untreated eyes with CNVM was analyzed, 21% of which required treatment at subsequent visits. CONCLUSIONS: OCTA-defined CNVM was seen in all subtypes of PED in clinically active and inactive disease. The role of OCTA in predicting need for treatment remains to be established. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:620-626.].

A Case Report of Endogenous Endophthalmitis in the Setting of Nocardia kroppenstedtii Infection.

A woman with a past medical history of radiation and chemotherapy for multiple malignancies presented with bilateral, multifocal, elevated chorioretinal lesions associated with vitritis. The differential diagnosis included endogenous endophthalmitis and metastatic disease. Her extensive medical history and ill appearance at presentation in concert with vitritis and subretinal lesions was concerning for endogenous endophthalmitis. Although her vitreous sample was negative, her blood cultures were positive for Nocardia kropenstedtii and Nocardia farcinica. She was started on broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage but had brain lesions on presentation and ultimately passed away. This is the first reported case of Nocardia endophthalmitis in the setting of systemic N. kroppenstedtii infection. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:53-55.].