PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Maertens

Publications and source records attributed to K Maertens.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Changes of the eye caused by the climate in Rwanda, Africa.

Rwanda is a small but densely populated country, situated at the watershed between East and West Africa, close to the equator. The mean elevation is around 1500 m. We studied 114 males (mean age 28.42 years) and 111 females (mean age 29.84 years) at the ophthalmological outpatient department of the Centre Hospitalier in Kigali. Changes to the eye caused by the climate were fewer than expected. Only 10 patients (5 males, 5 females) with pterygium (mean age 33.0 years), and four males and two females with climatic droplet keratopathy (mean age 47.5 years) were observed. However, the size of the pinguecula was marked. Corneal thickness, measured with Haag-Streit's device, averaged 0.524 mm in 38 males and 0.521 mm in 38 females. The Rwandans showed a normal chamber depth, a mean of 2.98 mm being noted in 107 males and a mean of 2.80 mm in 106 females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Ocular ulcerative herpes following measles in Kinshasa, Zaire.

Eight cases of ocular ulcerative herpes following measles are reported. The clinical features are characterized by dendritic corneal ulcer (6 cases) and ulcero-erosive blepharitis associated with corneal ulcer (2 cases). Bacteriologic examination disclosed Pseudomonas aeruginosas in 2 cases. The serum level of retinol, RBP, prealbumin and albumin were generally diminished in cases of dendritic corneal ulcer. These data are discussed in relation to the onset and severity of ocular ulcerative herpes associated with measles.

Blepharitis↗
PubMed1990

Onchocerciasis in Zaïre.

The first mention in Africa of ocular lesions and of blindness due to onchocerciasis was made by Hissette in Zaïre in 1931, although the disease had already been known there since 1903. On a map of Zaïre were indicated all the known data of the geographical distribution of onchocerciasis: data from the literature, from field work and from the patients seen in Kinshasa. An estimation of the relative incidence of the disease was made by comparing the number of patients with the number of the latest population census for each administrative zone. The environmental and developmental factors determining the epidemiological aspects are discussed. The clinical aspects of the typical eye symptoms are reviewed. Their correlation with age, with immunology and with some specialized eye examinations are discussed.

Blindness↗
PubMed1990

The onchocerciasis focus at Kinsuka/Kinshasa (Republic of Zaire) in 1985. II. Parasitological and clinical aspects.

Since the antivectorial control in 1948, the parasitological and clinical aspects of the onchocerciasis focus at Kinsuka/Kinshasa have not been studied further until now. The population examined was selected for its daily contact with the vector. It constituted 143 adults, including fishermen, stonebreakers and women cultivators, and 26 children aged from 10 to 16 years. People were subjected to an ophthalmological examination as well as to an investigation for Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae. Adults were examined for the presence of nodules as well as for dermal and lymphatic manifestations of onchocerciasis. The microfilaria carrier rate (MfCR) was 59.2%. The mean microfilaria density (MfD) was 9.7 mf mg-1. Only 20% of the adults presented with small onchocercal nodules. Cutaneous lesions were mild. Lymphatic complications such as adenolymphocele, hydrocele and elephantiasis of the lower limbs were observed in 18% of the adults. No one was blind from onchocerciasis, although nine patients of 60 years or over had lost the use of one eye. Punctate keratitis occurred commonly in young people. Ocular lesions, except for punctate keratitis, developed progressively after 55 years and they became worse with the degree of infection, age and length of stay. Hyperendemic and insufferable in 1940, onchocerciasis has become, in 1985, hypoendemic and no longer a public health problem. One could deduce that a situation similar to that in Kinsuka may occur within 30 years in other foci which are today hyperendemic and where prophylaxis has been started.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Amplitude of accommodation in Zairian subjects].

The authors studied the amplitude of accommodation in Zairian patients who consulted the Ophthalmic Clinic of University of Kinshasa from February 24 to July 31, 1986. During this period, of 1326 Zairians seen, 159 (318 eyes) were included in this study. Patients with monocular visual acuities less than 10/10, or with ocular pathology, astigmatisms and anisometropias exceeding one diopter were excluded from the study. The mean age +/- SD was 32 years +/- 12 with a range of 10 to 58 years. There were 101 males and 58 females. The measurements were performed, once for each patient, with Osterberg Bino-Oculus apparatus according to the "push-up" method and the plus spherical method. The amplitude of accommodation decreased with the age. This decrease was more notable between 30 and 40 years. The age of onset of presbyopia calculated from the amplitude of accommodation according to the "push-up" method was 39 years. The values of the amplitude of accommodation obtained by the both methods could be superposed (p greater than 0.05). They were similar to those of black patients and were also inferior to the white patients obtained by other authors.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1988

[Strabismus and heterophoria: the situation in Zaire].

The results of a prospective study of 66 cases of squint among black Zaïrian people are presented. The frequency of strabismus in routine ophthalmic consultation was estimated at 1.5% with a large number of exodeviations (1.25%). Excessive divergence was by far the commonest form of exodeviations. A large pupillary distance and telorism are common in Zaïrian people.

Black People↗
PubMed1986

Epidemic spastic paraparesis in Bandundu (Zaire).

Epidemiological findings of twenty sporadic cases of epidemic spastic paraparesis (buka-buka) in three areas of Bandundu (Zaire) are reported. These findings suggest the involvement of an infectious agent and do not support the hypothesis of a dietary cyanide intoxication, which has been advanced to explain the outbreak of a very similar disease (Mantakassa) in Mozambique.

Adult↗