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Biomedical subjects

Sharon Fekrat

Publications and source records attributed to Sharon Fekrat.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Adverse reaction characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath, and syncope associated with verteporfin (visudyne).

PURPOSE: To report a serious adverse reaction associated with verteporfin infusion. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Case report of a single individual undergoing photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin. RESULTS: A 77-year-old man with long-standing asymptomatic atrial fibrillation, but no known coronary artery disease experienced severe chest and neck pain, shortness of breath, and syncope while undergoing a fourth photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment with verteporfin. This infusion had been preceded by three prior infusions; the first two were uneventful, and the third was associated with milder, but similar symptoms. Evaluation demonstrated that the chest pain was noncardiac in origin. CONCLUSION: As verteporfin continues to be used around the world, physicians must be alert to the possibility of serious adverse side effects associated with its use.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Arteriovenous sheathotomy for branch retinal vein occlusion.

Branch vein occlusion is a significant cause of visual loss attributed to retinal vascular disease and is second only to diabetic retinopathy. BVO nearly always occurs at an AV crossing because of compression of the vein by the artery, resulting in hemodynamic abnormalities in the vein, including thrombus formation, reversal of flow toward the artery, and AV collateral formation. Relatively little information is available on the natural history of BVO; most of what exists is derived from clinical trials, including the BVOS. Current treatment options focus on treating sequelae of the occluded venous branch, such as macular edema, retinal neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, and traction retinal detachment. A novel therapeutic approach is decompression of the AV crossing, which has had promising initial results including restoration of vision and reversal of hemodynamic abnormalities. A prospective, controlled, clinical trial is being organized to determine the role of AV sheathotomy in the treatment of BVO.

Decompression, Surgical↗
PubMed2002

Vitrase ISTA Pharmaceuticals.

Vitrase is under development by ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc (formerly Advanced Corneal Systems, ACS) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical (in Japan) for the potential treatment of vitreous hemorrhage and diabetic retinopathy. In November 1998, it was approved in Mexico for the clearing of vitreous hemorrhage [305542]. In October 1998, Vitrase was designated a Fast-Track product for the vitreous hemorrhage indication by the FDA [303024], [307576]. The initial section of an NDA was filed in January 2002, which comprised the non-clinical pharmacology and toxicology sections [434925]. In April 2002, following discussions with the FDA, ISTA reported that it would be proceeding with the preparation and submission of the clinical and other required sections of the NDA for Vitrase for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage [447148]. In February 2002, analysts at CIBC World Markets Corp predicted Vitrase would be launched in early 2003, with worldwide sales reaching 200 million dollars within 5 years [444945].

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Optimal laser power to rupture Bruch's membrane and the retinal vein in the pig.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: For laser-induced chorioretinal venous anastomosis to become a viable treatment option for perfused central retinal vein occlusion, laser parameters must be refined to more reliably create venous anastomoses while minimizing complications. The aim of this study was to determine the lowest argon laser power at which Bruch's membrane and the retinal vein are ruptured in 100% of attempts in the porcine eye. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testing was performed on 6 eyes of 3 Yorkshire Cross pigs, using an argon green laser. The spot size was 50 microm and the duration was 0.2 seconds for all applications. Twelve laser powers were tested, from 0.5 to 6 W, increasing by increments of 0.5 W. Light microscopy was used to determine the frequency of rupture of Bruch's membrane and the retinal vein for each power. RESULTS: The rupture rate of Bruch's membrane was 0% at 0.5 W, 5% at 1.0 W, 20% at 1.5 W, 70% at 2.0 W, and 100% for all powers from 2.5 to 6.0 W. The rupture rate of the retinal vein was 0% at 0.5 W, 5% at 1.0 W, 30% at 1.5 W, 60% at 2.0 W, 80% at 2.5 W, and 100% for all powers from 3.0 to 6.0 W. CONCLUSION: Argon green laser powers of at least 2.5 and 3.0 W were necessary to rupture Bruch's membrane and the retinal vein, respectively, with a 100% success rate in the porcine eye. Because patients with central retinal vein occlusion have secondary retinal edema and may have lenticular opacity, higher laser powers may be required to achieve a 100% rupture rate of these structures.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator for the treatment of central retinal vein occlusion.

A 58-year-old hypertensive man with a perfused central retinal vein occlusion of 21 days' duration received 50 microg of intravitreal recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in 0.1 cc. Best-corrected visual acuity improved 2 weeks after the injection. Optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography demonstrated resolution of cystoid macular edema and improvement of venous outflow. Intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator may be a useful treatment for central retinal vein occlusion with a duration of 21 days or less.

Fluorescein Angiography↗