Ultrasonographic characteristics of active ocular toxoplasmosis / Achados ultrassonográficos em toxoplasmose ocular ativa

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate ophthalmic ultrasonographic findings associated with active ocular toxoplasmosis. Methods: Forty-seven eyes with active ocular toxoplasmosis in 47 patients were subjected to ocular ultrasonography using the transpalpebral technique (10-MHz transducer) and fundus photography. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Ocular ultrasonography revealed vitritis, posterior vitreous detachment, retinal wall thickening, and non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 47 (100%), 36 [76.6%; partial in 12 (25.5%) and total in 23 (48.9%)], 12 (25.5%), and 5 eyes (10.6%). Thirty-five of the 36 eyes with posterior vitreous detachment (97.2%) exhibited posterior hyaloid thickening; moreover, adhesion to the exudative lesion and vitreoschisis were observed in 4 (11.1%) and 12 eyes (25.5%), respectively. Ultrasonography detected the location of the exudative focus in 12 eyes (25.5%). Conclusion: Ultrasonography is helpful for detecting important intraocular findings of acute ocular toxoplasmosis that can be hindered by medial opacity or posterior synechiae.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os achados da ultrassonografia na toxoplasmose ocular ativa. Métodos: Quarenta e sete olhos com toxoplasmose ocular ativa em 47 pacientes foram submetidos à ultrassonografia ocular pela técnica transpalpebral (transdutor de 10 MHz) e fundo de olho. Os prontuários médicos foram revistos retrospectivamente. Resultados: A ultrassonografia ocular revelou vitreíte, descolamento vítreo posterior, espessamento da parede da retina e descolamento de retina não regmatogênico em 47 (100%), 36 [76,6%; parcial em 12 (25,5%) e total em 23 (48,9%)], 12 (25,5%) e 5 olhos (10,6%). Trinta e cinco dos 36 olhos com descolamento vítreo posterior (97,2%) exibiram espessamento hialoide posterior; além disso, a adesão à lesão exsudativa e vitreosquise foi observada em 4 (11,1%) e 12 (25,5%), respectivamente. A ultrassonografia detectou a localização do foco exsudativo em 12 olhos (25,5%). Conclusão: A ultrassonografia é útil na detecção de importantes achados intra-oculares de toxoplasmose ocular aguda que podem ser prejudicados pela opacidade medial ou sinéquia posterior.

Uveitis and Multiple Sclerosis: Potential Common Causal Mutations.

Uveitis, defined as inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye, is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment throughout the world. The etiology of uveitis is complex, and autoimmunity plays a major role in its pathogenesis. Intermediate uveitis (IU), a subtype of ocular inflammation, has been associated with systemic autoimmune disorders, specifically with multiple sclerosis (MS). This article reports a rare three-generation family with several members affected by IU (four siblings) and comorbid MS (two siblings fulfilling MS diagnostic criteria and a third sibling presenting some neurological symptoms). Based on the clinical findings, we captured and sequenced whole exomes of seven pedigree members (affected and unaffected). Using a recessive model of transmission with full penetrance, we applied genetic linkage analysis to define minimal critical regions (MCRs) in suggestive or nominal regions of linkage. In these MCRs, we defined functional (some pathogenic), novel, and rare mutations that segregated as homozygous in affected and heterozygous in unaffected family members. The genes harboring these mutations, including DGKI, TNFRSF10A, GNGT1, CPAMD8, and BAFF, which are expressed in both eye and brain tissues and/or are related to autoimmune diseases, provide new avenues to evaluate the inherited causes of these devastating autoimmune conditions.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of active ocular toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate ophthalmic ultrasonographic findings associated with active ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: Forty-seven eyes with active ocular toxoplasmosis in 47 patients were subjected to ocular ultrasonography using the transpalpebral technique (10-MHz transducer) and fundus photography. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ocular ultrasonography revealed vitritis, posterior vitreous detachment, retinal wall thickening, and non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 47 (100%), 36 [76.6%; partial in 12 (25.5%) and total in 23 (48.9%)], 12 (25.5%), and 5 eyes (10.6%). Thirty-five of the 36 eyes with posterior vitreous detachment (97.2%) exhibited posterior hyaloid thickening; moreover, adhesion to the exudative lesion and vitreoschisis were observed in 4 (11.1%) and 12 eyes (25.5%), respectively. Ultrasonography detected the location of the exudative focus in 12 eyes (25.5%). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is helpful for detecting important intraocular findings of acute ocular toxoplasmosis that can be hindered by medial opacity or posterior synechiae.

Echographic findings in the late stages of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in mexican population / Resultados ecográficos nas fases atrasadas da doença de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada na população mexicana

Purpose: To correlate clinical findings of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with standardized echography findings in a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study. Methods: Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in the convalescent and recurrence phases were evaluated with standardized ocular echography. Eyes with opaque media were excluded. Clinical findings were correlated with echographic data. Results: Thirty-seven eyes of 25 patients were included. Best corrected visual acuity was in average 20/100 (0.70 logMAR). Clinical findings included: sunset glow fundus (92%), pigment migration (92%), nummular chorioretinal depigmented scars (68%) and subretinal fibrosis (64.8%). Standardized echography was able to recognize all the cases with subretinal fibrosis (n=24) described clinically. Standardized echography showed a 100% sensitivity and specificity of finding subretinal fibrosis. Subretinal fibrosis in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada represents a risk factor for low vision. In our patients’ eyes, presence of subretinal fibrosis had a 2.5 time relative risk of having a visual acuity equal or worst to 20/70. Conclusions: Standardized echography represents a useful tool in patients with VKH in the chronic (convalescence and recurrence) phase of the disease. Subretinal fibrosis, a sight threatening complication in the convalescence and recurrent phases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, can be diagnosed with ocular echography, with characteristic images. Knowledge of these images can be useful in cases with opaque media and bilateral anterior segment granulomatous inflammatory disease. .

Objetivo: Correlacionar achados clínicos da síndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada com resultados ecográficos padronizado da doença em um estudo transversal, descritivo e observacional. Métodos: Pacientes com a doença de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, o convalescente e recorrência em fases padronizadas foram avaliados com ecografia ocular. Olhos com material opaco foram excluídos. Achados clínicos foram correlacionados com dados ecográficos. Resultados: Um total de 25 pacientes e trinta e sete olhos foram incluídos no estudo. A acuidade visual (AV) 20/100 foi em média 0.70 logMAR. Os achados clínicos incluídos: sunset glow fundus (92%), pigmento migração (92%), numular despigmentado cicatrizes coriorretinianas (68%) e fibrose sub-retiniana (64,8%). A ecografia padronizada foi capaz de reconhecer todos os casos de fibrose sub-retiniana (n= 24) descrito clinicamente. A ecografia revelou um padrão 100% de sensibilidade e especificidade do diagnóstico fibrose sub-retiniana. Sub-retiniana em pacientes com fibrose Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada representa um fator de risco para a baixa visão. Em nossos pacientes olhos, presença de fibrose subretiniana tinham um risco relativo 2,5 hora de ter uma acuidade visual igual ou pior para 20/70. Conclusão: Ecografia padronizadarepresenta uma ferramenta útil em pacientes portadores da doença na fase crônica (convalescença, e recidiva). Fibrose sub-retiniana, uma visão ameaçadora e complicação na convalescença e recorrentes nas fases da Síndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi- Harada, podem ser diagnosticados com ecografia ocular, com imagens características. O conhecimento dessas imagens pode ser útil em casos com material opaco e segmento anterior bilateral da doença inflamatória granulomatosa. .

[Ultrasonographic findings in ocular toxocariasis]. / Achados ultrassonográficos em toxocaríase ocular.

PURPOSE: To evaluate ophthalmic ultrasound findings in the three presentation forms of ocular toxocariasis (peripheral or posterior pole granulomas and chronic endophthalmitis), in patients with confirmed diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis. METHODS: 11 patients (11 eyes) with clinical and confirmed diagnosis of active ocular toxocariasis, presented positive ELISA test, were analyzed, prospectively, in the study. The patients were submitted to an ocular ultrasound examination (10-MHz transducer, contact technique). RESULTS: In the series of 11 patients, mean age was 7.9 years-old (range from 2 to 17 y), 73% male, referring previous contact with dogs (91%), and with the soil (50%), no referral of appetite perversion. In the analyses of compromised eyes (11 eyes), the ophthalmoscopic examination revealed the following distribution of the 3 forms of ocular toxocariasis: 7 cases (63.6%), posterior pole granuloma; 1 (9.1%), chronic endophthalmitis; 2 (18.2%), peripheral granuloma; and 1 (9.1%), posterior pole granuloma associated with chronic endophthalmitis. Visual acuity impairment: no light perception (3 eyes, 27.3%); hand motion (4 eyes, 36.4%); counting fingers at 10 cm (1 eye, 9.1%); 20/200 (1 eye, 9.1%); 20/70 (1 eye, 9.1%); undefined (1 eye, 9.1%). Serology was positive to Toxocara canis (ELISA test) in 100% of the cases. Ophthalmoscopy was difficult or impossible in 64% of the cases due to the media opacity. Ultrasound findings noted were vitreous membranes with retinal attachment (100%); parietal lesions (granulomas) with high (80%) or medium (20%) reflectivity. CONCLUSION: The most consistent ultrasound finding in the eye with toxocariasis was a high-reflectivity retinal mass, located in posterior pole or periphery, which may be calcified, and which has as main characteristic the adherence of vitreous membranes. In addition to clinical history, systemic evaluation and serology, the ultrasound can help in the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis, especially in media opacities.

[The relationship between the length of ciliary processes as measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy and the duration, localization and severity of uveitis]. / A relação entre o comprimento dos processos ciliares medidos pela biomicroscopia ultra-sônica e a duração, localização e gravidade das uveítes.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the length of ciliary processes as measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy and the duration, localization and severity of uveitis. METHODS: We analyzed in this prospective study, 58 individuals including patients with different stages of uveitis and normal patients (112 eyes including 18 normal), between August 2001 and August 2002, at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, USA. All patients were referred to ultrasound biomicroscopy by the Uveitis Department, after a complete ophthalmological examination. A 50 MHz-transducer UBM model 840 (Zeiss-Humphrey) was used under topical anesthesia and immersion technique. RESULTS: The most frequent etiology was idiophatic uveitis (27.8%). Recurrent, aggressive and diffuse uveitis lead to significant damage of the ciliary processes. The most significant loss of the ciliary processes was found in the inferior quadrant and the highest in normal patients and in the temporal quadrant. Hypotonic eyes have their ciliary processes reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound biomicroscopy has proved to be useful in evaluating anatomical changes of ciliary processes in uveitis and in ocular hypotony, and provides a basis to, make recommendations regarding baseline screening of uveitis patients. Patients who are found to have atrophy of the ciliary processes may need a more aggressive treatment for any signs of inflammation to prevent further damage and eventual hypotony.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in uveitis

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) is an imaging technique using ultrasound waves to produce a two-dimensional real time view of the anterior segment of the eye up to a depth of five millimeters. The cross section images are obtained using a high frequency ultrasound (50 to 100 MHz) transducer, incorporated into a B-mode clinical scanner. Axial and lateral resolutions of the anterior segment structures are within 20 to 60 mm. This is ten times the resolution achieved by the conventional ophthalmic ultrasound imaging frequencies. As a relation exists between image resolution and waves, tissue penetration ultrasound biomicroscopy has a penetration depth of only five millimeters, but can be increased to 15 mm using an orbital cup filled with methylcellulose that allows a shorter work transducer distance. Commerically available scanners produce a 5 X 5-mm transducer field with 256 image lines at a scan rate of 8 frames per second. This system generates images of the anterior segment of the eye, the pars plana and peripheral retina. Clincial applications of UBM have been previously described, including imaging in cases of glaucoma, anterior segment and peripheral choroidal tumours, ocular trauma, corneoscleral phakic and pseudophakic pathologies. With UBM, the anterior segment of the eye can be better observed in cases of corneal opacities, cataract, hyphaema and intraocular anterior membranes. UBM also provides information that cannot be obtained with the clinical examination alone. This talk highlights some of the findings of ultrasound biomicroscopy in anterior uveitis. UBM provides a view of the inferior angle in cases of hypopyon. Sometimes what looks like a hypopyon can be a cyst filled with inflammatory cells. A sign of granulomatous inflammation that can be observed with UBM is a localized thickening of the interior peripheral cornea at the six o'clock position (prismatic effect). Many cases that present this prismatic effect will be associated with sarcoidosis. Inflammation of the ciliary body and the vitreous base can be observed in ways that are not possible with the direct ophthalmoscope and the tree mirror contact lens. Circumscribed areas of reflectivity and thickness changes in UBM images resembing nodules are often seen in the ciliary bodies in cases of sarcoidosis or in severe chronic granulomatous uveitis.(AU)