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Biomedical subjects

L G Clearkin

Publications and source records attributed to L G Clearkin.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Antiphospholipid antibodies in the aetiology of ischaemic optic neuropathy.

The involvement of antiphospholipid antibodies in the mediation of acute anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) was studied, in the light of recent associations between these autoantibodies and other vascular events. A strong association between IgG anticardiolipin antibodies and AION secondary to biopsy proven giant cell arteritis was identified, which did not exist with the 'non-arteritic', biopsy negative form of AION. The possible implications of this finding on the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of giant cell arteritis are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Dysthyroid eye disease masquerading as glaucoma.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) screening by optometrists is increasingly prevalent. Although a raised IOP usually signifies glaucoma there can be other causes, notably dysthyroid eye disease, which those screening should be aware of. The patients in the four cases presented were presumed to have glaucoma on the basis of raised IOPs, and three of them actually received medication. Because their optic nerves and visual fields showed no abnormalities this diagnosis was questioned and the cause shown to be dysthyroid eye disease. Thyroid eye disease causes raised IOP on upgaze due to a thickened inferior rectus identing the globe; however, in the primary position the IOP is normal. A misleading raised IOP can thus be found if tonometry is inadvertently done in upgaze, either because of poor patient positioning or Bell's phenomenon. Although some patients will have a past medical history of thyrotoxicosis, dysthyroid eye disease can occur in the absence of systemic or biochemical abnormalities. The important clinical signs are lid lag, lid retraction, raised IOP on upgaze and proptosis, the first three being the most common. Tonometry should thus always be done in the primary position and if raised IOPs are found without any of the other features of glaucoma, other causes particularly dysthyroid eye disease, should be considered.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Recurrent corneal epithelial erosions in Alport's syndrome.

Alport's syndrome is a heritable disorder of uncertain aetiology characterized by nephritis, sensorineural deafness and ocular abnormalities. Bilateral corneal epithelial erosions are a previously unreported finding which support the hypothesis that Alport's syndrome is a disorder of selected basement membranes.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

How to perform a temporal artery biopsy.

Temporal artery biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis. The technique is described together with the anatomy of the superficial temporal artery.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

Per-nasal swabbing as an aid to the diagnosis of chlamydial and adenovirus conjunctivitis.

Two hundred and thirty four patients (adults and babies) with conjunctivitis were investigated by taking eye swabs and in addition by taking per-nasal swabs. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from 20 patients and adenovirus from 14 patients. Per-nasal swabbing led to a 53% increase in chlamydia diagnosis and a 27% increase in the diagnosis of adenovirus infection. It is suggested that per-nasal swabbing has an important role to play in detecting chlamydial conjunctivitis which itself may be an indicator for high morbidity in patients and their contacts.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗
PubMed1990

Ocular involvement in giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Severe visual loss is the most frequent serious complication. This article reviews current ideas about GCA and in particular its ocular manifestations.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1988

Radiological investigation in the management of uveitis.

Patients suffering from Uveitis often undergo radiological investigation in order to detect underlying sarcoidosis or ankylosing spondylitis. We reviewed the results of X-rays performed in this hospital over a four year period in order to determine the efficiency of such screening. Our results suggest that radiological investigation has little role in the management of patients with Uveitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Adult follicular conjunctivitis and neonatal ophthalmia in a Liverpool eye hospital, 1980-1984.

In the five year period between 1980 and 1984, 2146 adults and 172 neonates suffering from acute conjunctivitis underwent laboratory investigation for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Adenoviruses (AV), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and pathogenic bacteria. Epidemiology and clinical features are presented and discussed. CT was detected in 29 per cent of neonates with conjunctivitis. 5.6 per cent of adults and older children investigated for follicular conjunctivitis were CT positive. There was a significant female preponderance among CT positive neonates of 1.9:1 (p less than 0.02). 91 per cent of neonates and 62 per cent of adults in whom CT was detected were receiving some sort of treatment. Serotypes 7, 3, 10, 4 and 8 were responsible in decreasing order of frequency for 96 per cent of AV infections. Serotype 7 was seen for the first time in an adult age distribution. HSV was isolated in 1.3 per cent of cases in the absence of typical lid or corneal lesions. Viral infection was not detected in any neonate. Bacterial infection was a more likely cause than CT in neonates if infection had persisted longer than 5 weeks (p much less than 0.001). Neonates with Staph aureus infection tended to present earlier in the course of disease than those with Haemophilus sp or Pneumococcus (p less than 0.05).

Adenoviridae Infections↗
PubMed1986

Failure of prophylactic surgery to avert massive pituitary expansion in pregnancy.

Macroprolactinomas have a well-recognized potential for marked expansion during pregnancy. Measures advocated to minimize this risk include prior treatment with dopamine agonists, radiotherapy and pituitary surgery. We describe a patient who underwent transsphenoidal surgery with the removal of an histologically proven prolactin-secreting adenoma with the intention of rendering subsequent pregnancy safe. The patient remained hyperprolactinaemic and received prolonged therapy with metergoline and bromocriptine which suppressed prolactin to normal and she conceived after induction of ovulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin and human chorionic gonadotrophin. At 3 months gestation she developed headaches, vomiting, reduced visual acuity and bitemporal hemianopia caused by massive pituitary expansion. Reintroduction of bromocriptine rapidly abolished features of tumour expansion and after delivery of a full-term normal female infant, repeat CT scan documented tumour shrinkage.

Bromocriptine↗
PubMed1983

Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy associated with transient hearing loss.

A case of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy associated with low tone hearing loss is reported. Both, visual and hearing loss completely recovered. The pattern of low tone hearing loss is similar to that found in vascular lesions of the cochlea and may have the same aetiology as the acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy in this case.

Acute Disease↗