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Biomedical subjects

C L Cowan

Publications and source records attributed to C L Cowan.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Ocular disturbances in vitiligo.

One hundred fifty-six patients with vitiligo were examined for ocular abnormalities. A 2:3 ratio of white to black patients allowed us to evaluate the role of race in the occurrence of ocular disturbances. A large percentage (40%) of all patients showed some degree of fundal pigment disturbance including pigment clumps, focal hypopigmented spots, and choroidal nevi. Although racial variations were found in the incidence of choroidal nevi (p = 0.001) and iris transillumination (p = 0.0012), these variations were believed to reflect normal differences found in patients without vitiligo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

When should sarcoidosis be treated?

About 80 percent of sarcoidosis cases are benign and do not require treatment, but 20 percent will have chronic unremitting disease for which therapy is essential. It is important that the physician identify this group and begin therapy promptly. If the disease is active, treat. If it is inactive, do not treat. Activity depends upon three major tests: serum angiotensin converting enzyme, gallium 67 scan, and bronchoalveolar lavage. The other consideration is involvement of vital organ systems; ie, active ocular disease, progressive pulmonary involvement as evidenced by increasing symptoms, impaired and deteriorating pulmonary function, or radiographic changes; hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria; central nervous system involvement; disfiguring cutaneous lesions; and myocardial sarcoidosis. Following a therapeutic decision to treat, adrenocorticoids are the drugs of choice. Methylprednisolone, prednisone, and cortisol are listed in order of benefit. Alternate day and/or low-dose steroids are increasing in popularity. Chloroquine phosphate is beneficial for skin lesions, while oxyphenbutazone has been found to be at least as effective as prednisone. Immunosuppressives may be used also. Chlorambucil and azathioprine have shown variable results. Cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A) shows promise and is now undergoing therapeutic trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Sarcoidosis--the beginning: historical highlights of personalities and their accomplishments during the early years.

Sarcoidosis, an affliction of mankind named only as recently as this century, was first described by Hutchinson in 1878, and noted in a second patient, one Mrs. Mortimer, in 1898. In 1889, Besnier described lupus pernio.Boeck obtained skin biopsies in 1899. Kreibich described punched-out bone lesions in 1904. Darier and Roussy described subcutaneous nodules in 1906, and Heerfordt described uveoparotid fever in 1909. Schaumann synthesized the many diverse syndromes of sarcoidosis into a single disease in a prizewinning essay in 1914. Kveim biopsied the sarcoid skin test-site and established a diagnostic test in 1941.Lofgren described the bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy-erythema nodosum syndrome in 1946. In 1954, Israel and Sones helped establish sarcoidosis as an immunologic disorder. In 1963 Cummings compiled a bibliography on sarcoidosis, and in 1966 Siltzbach conducted his renowned international Kveim test trial.At Howard University, Harden ignited an interest in sarcoidosis. In 1944 Johnson and Jason contributed to a description of cardiac involvement, while Cowan studied ocular involvement in sarcoidosis.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed1983

Ischemic oculopathy.

A 58-year-old woman had unilateral visual loss, anterior uveitis, rubeosis, and glaucoma. She subsequently was found to have a complete occlusion of the internal carotid on the same side. The clinician is reminded to consider a diagnosis of carotid insufficiency in elderly patients with anterior uveitis or rubeosis of obscure origin.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1983

Successful management of Pseudomonas endogenous endophthalmitis.

A 38-year-old man acquired a Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection after transplant nephrectomy. After an initial response to therapy, Pseudomonas sepsis developed, and he was readmitted to the hospital. Two days after admission, blurred vision developed. Ocular examination revealed a severe vitritis and exudate in the pupillary space on the right side. Endogenous endophthalmitis was suspected, and a diagnostic vitreous aspiration yielded P aeruginosa on culture. The patient was treated with intravitreal, subconjunctival, and topical antibiotics as well as periocular steroids, and was able to achieve useful vision before his death from his systemic illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Retinitis pigmentosa associated with hearing loss, thyroid disease, vitiligo, and alopecia areata: retinitis pigmentosa and vitiligo.

A 54-year-old woman with retinitis pigmentosa and hearing loss developed white skin patches that were subsequently diagnosed as vitiligo. A review of the literature reveals that, although the association of vitiligo with various tapedoretinal degenerations has been reported on several occasions, the association with typical retinitis pigmentosa is quite rare. This combination of disorders associated with pigment loss is of interest as immunologic disturbances have been implicated on both.

Alopecia Areata↗
PubMed1982

Migraine optic neuropathy.

Transient visual symptoms associated with migraine are a well-described feature of this disease, but permanent visual loss is seen relatively infrequently. Three patients are discussed who experienced permanent visual defects following migraine attacks. Recognition of this syndrome may allow the physician to defer doing an extensive neurological examination of an otherwise neurologically intact patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Extended-wear contact lenses and intraocular lenses for aphakic correction.

We evaluated extended-wear soft contact lens use in 128 aphakic eyes of 113 patients, 44 of whom had been unable to wear conventional contact lenses; 116 eyes (91%) have been successfully fitted and have worn the extended-wear lenses without significant complication. Eleven patients were unable to wear the lens or had to be discontinued for transient lens-related problems. In 103 eyes successfully fitted the lens is removed for cleaning less often than monthly. Ninety six of the 116 eyes fitted have visual acuity as good as, or better than, with aphakic correcting spectacles. The results obtained with the extended-wear soft contact lens are similar to those obtained with intraocular lenses, except for the recent high incidence of inflammation seen after intraocular lens insertion when using ethylene-oxide-sterilized lenses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Bacillus cereus panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin.

Two healthy young black men developed panophthalmitis after intravenous heroin injections. Bacillus cereus, considered to be a relatively noncommon pathogen for man, was found to be the causative agent as it was recovered from the anterior chamber and viterous cavity of both cases. The ocular findings were unilateral in each case, and neither patient had any sistemic involvement from the bacteremia. The onset of visual symptoms varied from 24 to 36 hours after the last intravenous injection with the eye becoming rapidly blind. Photographs of the early fundus lesions included preretinal hypopyon-like lesions and peculiar changes in the blood vasculature. Intracameral gentamicin and steroids did not alter the cause, and treatment was enucleation.

Adult↗
PubMed1965

Anophthalmos.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anophthalmos↗