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[Retinopathy caused by interferon alpha associated with ribavirin therapy and the importance of the electro-oculogram: a case report].

AIM: Ophthalmological complications with interferon alpha (INF-alpha) have been described since 1992: toxic retinopathy with cotton-wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, visual evoked potential (VEP) modifications and visual field abnormalities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In 2002, a 44-year-old woman was referred complaining of visual problems. In 1986, she had been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C and underwent INF-alpha therapy for 6 months with no ophthalmological symptoms. In 2001, she began a second course of INF-alpha therapy along with ribavirin. After 5 months, in February 2002, she developed hypothyroidism induced by INF, received levothyroxine and her treatment for the hepatitis C was stopped. One month later, in March, she complained of visual difficulties in dim light. Clinical ophthalmological examination and Goldmann visual field testing, electroretinogram (ERG) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were normal but the electro-oculogram (EOG) showed that the light-peak-to-dark-trough ratios were very low: 148% in the right eye, 156% in the left eye. The fluorescein angiography was normal. The patient was followed up 4 months later, in June 2002 (after 5 months without INF-alpha therapy), showing a slight improvement of the EOG and no visual symptoms. Two other follow-up examinations were done in September 2002 and January 2003: the slight improvement persisted but the EOGs remain below the normal range values. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A review of the literature brought out that an EOG is not usually done in the monitoring of patients taking INF-alpha, but we decided to do this examination because of her symptoms, the first case to our knowledge in a patient taking INF-alpha. This case report underlines the necessity of an EOG on patients with INF-alpha therapy. Until now, the pathogenesis of this retinal toxicity has been poorly understood. These results show that the retinal pigmented epithelium is probably implicated at an early stage in this retinal toxicity.

Adult↗

[Perioperative management of a patient with purpura fulminans syndrome due to protein C deficiency].

PURPOSE: Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant and homozygous protein C deficiency is a rare fatal thrombotic disease. This report describes the perioperative management of homozygous protein C deficiency in a patient who underwent a total of three surgical procedures under general anesthesia and the successful use of activated protein C concentrate. CLINICAL FEATURES: A female baby, who developed disseminated intravascular coagulation and purpura fulminans shortly after birth, was diagnosed as purpura fulminans syndrome due to homozygous protein C deficiency. At one month of age, she suffered bilateral retinal detachment and glaucoma due to retinal hemorrhage. After marked improvement of her condition after administration of activated protein C concentrate, she underwent a left iridectomy and implantation of a Broviak catheter under general anesthesia. Her intraoperative course was uncomplicated but, on postoperative day four, she presented another episode of massive cutaneous necrosis and gangrene. Activated protein C concentrate was administered again, with good results. She underwent replacement of a Broviak catheter at four months of age, and right iridectomy for glaucoma at eight months. Both were uneventful. CONCLUSION: The perioperative management of homozygous protein C deficiency and purpura fulminans requires appropriate measures for thromboembolic prophylaxis. Sufficient iv fluid administration is necessary. Attention should be paid to decrease the risk of tissue compression such as that associated with positioning, blood pressure cuff, and endotracheal intubation, which may cause necrosis over pressure points. Replacement therapy with activated protein C concentrate appears safe and effective. The anesthetic management is reviewed and discussed.

Anesthesia, General↗

Racial differences in the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy.

Few population-based data support the hypothesis that hypertensive retinopathy is more common in African Americans than in whites. We examined racial differences in the prevalence of and risk factors for hypertensive retinopathy in a population-based sample of 1860 African Americans and 7874 white persons, aged 49 to 73 years, without diabetes. Retinal photographs were taken of one randomly selected eye and evaluated for the presence of retinopathy (flame and blot-shaped retinal hemorrhages, microaneurysms, and soft exudates) according to standardized protocols by graders masked to participant characteristics. The prevalence of retinopathy was 2 times higher in African Americans than in whites (7.7% versus 4.1%, age- and gender-adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.03, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.65, 2.49). After controlling for 6-year mean arterial blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medications and left ventricular hypertrophy by ECG criteria, the excess prevalence of retinopathy in African Americans was reduced by 40% (adjusted OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.26, 2.06). Further adjustment for other vascular risk factors, common carotid artery intima-media thickness, and serum creatinine levels reduced the excess prevalence in African Americans by another 13% (adjusted OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.08, 2.03). We conclude that hypertensive retinopathy is twice as frequent in African Americans compared with whites without diabetes and that the excess prevalence of retinopathy in African Americans is associated with blood pressure and severity of hypertension.

Aged↗

First microangiographic abnormalities in childhood diabetes--types of lesions.

An analysis by fluorescein angiography of the first signs of retinopathy in 161 diabetic children showed that microaneurysm-like spot dilatations, microaneurysms, focal capillary dilatations, leakage, generalized capillary dilatations, retinal hemorrhages, areas of capillary non-perfusion and capillary remodelling, in decreasing order of frequency, were features of the onset of retinopathy. However, microaneurysm-like spot dilatations and both focal and generalized capillary dilatations were considered to be too subjective for use in further quantitative analysis. Retinopathy was not found in children less than 12 years of age and was detected only after at least 3 years of diabetes. The mean duration of diabetes before the occurrence of the first lesions in 118 affected eyes was 8.2 years. The mean age at which lesions occurred was 16.4 years. Although capillary non-perfusion was rarely an initial lesion, occurring after a longer duration of diabetes and at a later age than the other lesions, no significant difference could be found between the various types of lesions for either the patient's age at their onset or the duration of diabetes. The type of initial lesion was also unrelated to sex, age at the onset of diabetes, or metabolic control.

Adolescent↗

Retinopathy and risk of congestive heart failure.

CONTEXT: Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects a substantial proportion of adults including those without preexisting coronary heart disease. The pathogenesis of CHF is uncertain, but microvascular disease has been hypothesized as a possible factor. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship of retinopathy, a marker of systemic microvascular disease, to risk of CHF. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based, prospective 7-year cohort study in 4 US communities using the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study database. Participants (n = 11,612, aged 49 to 73 years) had retinal photographs taken between 1993 and 1995. The photographs were graded according to a standardized protocol for the presence of retinopathy (eg, microaneurysms, retinal hemorrhages, soft exudates), arteriovenous nicking, focal arteriolar narrowing, and generalized arteriolar narrowing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association between retinopathy and incident CHF, identified from hospitalization and death records. RESULTS: The 7-year cumulative incidence of CHF was 5.4% (492 events). Participants with retinopathy had a higher incidence of CHF compared with those without retinopathy (15.1% vs 4.8%, P<.001). After controlling for age, sex, race, preexisting coronary heart disease, mean arterial blood pressure, diabetes, glucose level, cholesterol level, smoking, body mass index, and study site, the presence of retinopathy was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of CHF (relative risk, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.51-2.54). Among participants without preexisting coronary heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension, retinopathy was associated with a 3-fold higher risk of CHF (relative risk, 2.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-5.92). CONCLUSIONS: Retinopathy is an independent predictor of CHF, even in persons without preexisting coronary heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension. This suggests that microvascular disease may play an important role in the development of heart failure in the general population. Some asymptomatic persons with retinopathy on an ophthalmologic examination may benefit from further assessment of CHF risk.

Adult↗

Surgical excision of retinal macroaneurysms with submacular hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To report the visual outcome following the surgical excision of retinal macroaneurysms with submacular hemorrhage. METHODS: Two patients presented with decreased vision caused by submacular hemorrhage from retinal macroaneurysms. In the first case, the macroaneurysm was too large to be treated by photocoagulation, and in the second case the direct photocoagulation during the first vitrectomy did not prevent the recurrence of hemorrhages. Vitrectomy with surgical excision of the retinal macroaneurysm using scissors and diathermy with a drainage of the submacular hemorrhage was then performed. RESULTS: In the first patient, the visual acuity was light perception before treatment and 2/200 16 months after the excision. In the second patient, the visual acuity was 20/667 before treatment and 20/40 11 months after the excision. No hemorrhage has recurred in either case after the second vitrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical excision of retinal macroaneurysms might be an effective procedure in cases where the macroaneurysm is too large or cannot be treated by photocoagulation during vitrectomy.

Aged↗

Lens opacifications detected by slitlamp biomicroscopy are associated with exposure to organic nitrate explosives.

CONTEXT: Unusual cataracts (flecks) have been reported to occur at very low levels of trinitrotoluene exposure, but prevalence estimates vary widely. Cataracts have not been reported among workers in the United States exposed to organic nitrate explosives. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of unusual cataracts in a population of workers in the United States exposed to organic nitrate explosives, to determine whether associations exist with reported cataract risk factors, and to determine if other eye effects (eg, retinal hemorrhage) are associated with exposure. DESIGN: Cohort prevalence study. SETTING: A university-based ophthalmologic clinic. SUBJECTS: Sixty-one workers from an explosives plant comprised the exposed group. The comparison group consisted of 56 workers using chemicals other than organic nitrate explosives. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was opacifications (flecks) of the crystalline lens, graded clinically on a scale of 0 to 4 +. Additional measures included visual acuity, applanation tonometry, and clinical evaluation using standard examination techniques. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the workers had anterior cortical lens opacifications in a pattern of peripheral flecks. Exposed subjects were 18 times more likely to exhibit changes than those not exposed, a statistically significant association (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0-65.0; P<.001). A statistically significant association with the duration of exposure was also found. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic, low-grade cataracts (flecks) were identified in 63% of the workers exposed to pentolite. No other eye effects were found to be associated with exposure. Cataracts were not associated with other known risk factors, but were associated with the duration of exposure. Biomicroscopy is widely available and useful for detecting changes in the asymptomatic stages.

Adult↗

The eyes of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Johann Sebastian Bach's only physical problem seems to have been his vision. Myopia seems most likely, and it is probable that he developed cataracts at an older age. In addition to the cataracts, his worsening vision may have been due in part to some other eye problem. During the last year of his life, Bach's vision became so poor that he decided to have his eyes operated on. Two operations were performed in 1750 by the traveling English eye surgeon John Taylor. Most likely the first operation was Taylor's standard couching procedure. About 1 week after the first operation, Bach had to be operated on again because of a reappearance of the cataract. Many painful and/or vision-reducing complications could have been induced by these intraocular operations: uveitis or endophthalmitis, secondary glaucoma, hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and even sympathetic ophthalmia. Bach was "completely blind" after the operations, and he died less than 4 months after the final operation.

Eye Diseases↗