Visual Disturbances (visual + disturbance)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


The advantages and disadvantages of non-surgical management of the diabetic foot

DIABETES/METABOLISM: RESEARCH AND REVIEWS, Issue S1 2008
Fran Game
Abstract It is frequently stated that diabetic foot ulcers should be managed by a multidisciplinary team, comprising individuals who can deliver all the necessary and wide-ranging skills: medical and surgical, podiatric, nursing and orthotic. Whilst there are some data to support this multidisciplinary approach there is little to guide us in ensuring the patient is seen by the right professional for the right treatment at the right time. This article will examine the evidence supporting the most effective use of the multidisciplinary team. It will look at medical managements of ulcers including dressings, offloading and the treatment of infection, either cellulitis or osteomyelitis. By contrast, the role of surgery in offloading, and the treatment of osteomyelitis will be examined, as well as the role of vascular surgery. The most important aspect of management choice, however, is the need to focus on the needs of the person with a diabetic foot ulcer rather than simply on the treatment of the ulcer in isolation. Other complications of diabetes, which may have an effect on wound healing such as glycaemic control, renal failure and visual disturbance will be explored. Finally, there will be discussion of the relevance of outcome measure, both of ulcers as well as those more patient-centred. The ways in which these can be used to monitor individual clinical responses to treatment will be described, as well as their potential use as an aid to comparison of the effectiveness of treatment protocols adopted in different centres. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Pineal germinoma presenting as anorexia nervosa: Case report and review of the literature

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 7 2006
Anthony P. Winston MRCPsych
Abstract Objective: Tumors of the hypothalamic-pineal region may present with a wide variety of symptoms, including disturbed eating. We present a case where such a tumor was misdiagnosed as anorexia nervosa. Method: We describe a case of pineal germinoma invading the hypothalamus, which was initially diagnosed as anorexia nervosa. Results: Clinical features included weight loss, vomiting, pyrexia, hypernatraemia, and visual disturbance and the typical psychopathology of anorexia nervosa was absent. Conclusion: Organic disorder should always be considered before making a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, particularly if the presentation is atypical. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006 [source]


A case of Adamantiades-Behçet disease with ischemic optic neuritis (posterior optic neuropathy)

JOURNAL DER DEUTSCHEN DERMATOLOGISCHEN GESELLSCHAFT, Issue 11 2007
Satoko Shima
Summary Adamantiades-Behçet disease (ABD) may present with cutaneous and ophthalmologic finings. A 29-year old woman complained of fever and general fatigue, along with erythema nodosum and vesiculo-pustular lesions on the legs, acneiform lesions, genital ulcerations and painful oral ulcers. She also complained of reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance and blurred vision in the left eye. Her left visual acuity was 6/20. Light reflex in the left eye was reduced. The relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) was positive in the left eye where a central scotoma was present. The vitreous was clear; the optic disc, macula, retina and iris were all normal. Uveitis was not observed. The patient was diagnosed with ischemic optic neuritis (posterior optic neuropathy) with ABD. Histopathological findings taken from a blister on the leg showed subepidermal bulla, dense dermal neutrophil infiltration, and extravasation of erythrocytes, suggesting leukocytoclastic vas-culitis. She was treated orally with high-dose corticosteroids (methylprednisolone 500 mg/d) for three days. Her general condition and ophthalmic symptoms resolved completely. Optic neuropathy with ABD is very rare; we know of two previous cases [1, 2] of ABD with ischemic posterior optic neuritis. [source]


Characteristics of puumala and Dobrava infections in Croatia,

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2002
A. Markoti
Abstract In this study, two different hantaviruses, Puumala virus (PUUV) and Dobrava virus (DOBV), were demonstrated for the first time to coexist and cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Croatia. Phylogenetic analysis showed some differences among the nucleotide sequences of PUUV originating from Dinara mountain, which was more closely related to Austrian PUUV than other Croatian PUUV from Mala Kapela mountain. More consistency was found among the Croatian DOBV. HFRS was verified in 85 of 201 suspected cases recorded in 1995 during the largest HFRS outbreak in Croatia. Most of these cases were soldiers. With the exception of the coastal region and islands, all of Croatia was found to be an area endemic for HFRS. A statistically significantly higher proportion of DOBV-infected patients had acute renal failure, visual disturbance, severe thrombocytopenia, and elevated levels of nonsegmented leukocytes, creatine, and total bilirubin. The prevalence of gastrointestinal and electrocardiography disorders also was greater in DOBV-infected patients. Interestingly, significantly more PUUV-infected patients had elevated systolic blood pressure on admission to the hospital. Further prospective studies are necessary to shed more light on differences in HFRS severity associated with PUU and DOB viruses. J. Med. Virol. 66:542,551, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Malignant craniopharyngioma; case report and review of the literature

NEUROPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Atthaporn Boongird
A case of malignant craniopharyngioma in a 46-year-old woman presenting clinically with visual disturbance and bifrontal headache is reported. Histopathologic examination of the suprasellar mass showed a lesion characterized by nests of epithelial cells with a basaloid appearance, round-to-oval nuclei, moderate pleomorphism, hyperchromasia, increased nuclear cytoplastic ratio and high mitotic activity. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for Ki-67 (44.3%), p53 (98%), and p63 (100%), but negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors. Clinical and pathologic features with a brief review of the relevant literature for malignant craniopharyngioma as a novel member of tumors of the suprasellar region, is discussed. [source]


Rarebit perimetry and fovea test before and after cataract surgery

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010
Maria Nilsson
ABSTRACT. Purpose:, To evaluate the effect of cataract on rarebit perimetry and the fovea test. Methods:, Twenty-five consecutive patients scheduled for cataract surgery (mean age 63.0 ± 7.9 years) were examined prior to and after cataract surgery with a complete ophthalmological examination. In addition, the rarebit perimetry (RBP) and the rarebit fovea test (RFT) were performed. Results:, Best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA, expressed in minimum angle of resolution (MAR)], RBP and RFT mean hit rate (MHR) improved significantly after cataract surgery. The relative pre,postsurgery difference was larger in the RFT [2.1 standard deviations (SDs)] compared to in BCVA (0.78 SDs). Seven patients had good BCVA (, 1.25) and RBP (83,99%) but low RFT (0,66%) before surgery. One patient with low preoperative BCVA (2.5) had a normal RFT (94%). Conclusion:, Cataract influenced both the RFT and RBP test, albeit the former more than the latter. The influence of cataract on RFT results, even when visual acuity is decreased only moderately, has to be taken into account when evaluating foveal function in patients with cataract. The larger relative change in RFT compared to BCVA values is thought to indicate that RFT is more sensitive for the effect of cataract. Therefore, RFT appears to be a sensitive test for visual disturbance and can presumably provide additional information at the preoperative evaluation of the patient. [source]


How reliably can autoimmune hypophysitis be diagnosed without pituitary biopsy

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Trevor A. Howlett
Summary Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare chronic inflammatory condition of the pituitary gland which typically presents with hypopituitarism and a pituitary mass. Cases involving anterior pituitary alone (65%) are six times more common in women, typically presenting during pregnancy or postpartum (57%). Anterior and posterior pituitary involvement (25%) are twice as common in women, and neurohypophysis alone (10%) occurs equally in both sexes. It has a prevalence of around 5 per million, an annual incidence of 1 in 7 to 9 million and in our experience represents the known or suspected cause of 0·5% of cases of hypopituitarism, <1% of pituitary masses and 2% of nonfunctioning macro lesions presenting to an endocrine clinic. However, ,missed' cases of autoimmune hypophysitis may be the aetiology of some other unexplained cases of hypopituitarism. Clinically, headache and visual disturbance are common. Anterior hypopituitarism shows a characteristic but atypical pattern of deficiency of ACTH followed by TSH, gonadotrophins and prolactin deficiency or hyperprolactinaemia. Eighteen percent of cases have evidence of another autoimmune condition. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), autoimmune hypophysitis is typically symmetrical and homogeneous with thickened but undisplaced stalk in contrast to typical findings with pituitary tumours. Ultimately, the histological diagnosis of autoimmune hypophysitis can only be confirmed by surgery but a presumptive diagnosis can often be made on the basis of a combination of context and clinical features, and pituitary biopsy is not always clinically necessary for effective clinical management of the patient. [source]


Immediate and Midterm Complications of Sclerotherapy: Report of a Prospective Multicenter Registry of 12,173 Sclerotherapy Sessions

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2005
FACPH, Jean-Jérôme Guex MD
Background Growing interest in sclerotherapy has emphasized the need for complete knowledge of all aspects of this method. Objective To precisely delineate the actual incidence of immediate and delayed untoward events of daily sclerotherapy. Methods A multicenter prospective registry was established in 22 phlebology clinics to report their activity and complications. Results During the study period, 12,173 sessions of sclerotherapy were carried out, 5,434 with liquid, 6,395 with foam, and 344 using both. Four thousand eighty-eight (33.9%) sessions were carried out with ultrasound guidance. Forty-nine incidents or accidents (0.4%) occurred, of which 12 were with liquid and 37 with foam. These were reported during the time of the study and an additional 1-month follow-up. Most numerous were 20 cases of visual disturbances (in 19 cases, foam or air block was used); all resolved shortly, without any after-effects. A femoral vein thrombosis was the only severe adverse event in this study. Conclusions This study demonstrates that sclerotherapy is a safe technique. FUNDING FOR RESEARCH WAS PROVIDED BY THE FRENCH SOCIETY OF PHLEBOLOGY, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. [source]


Color vision and macular recovery time in epileptic adolescents treated with valproate and carbamazepine

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 7 2006
A. Verrotti
Visual dysfunction has been reported in patients diagnosed with epilepsy. Some of these visual disturbances may be attributable to either the disease process, or the anticonvulsant therapy prescribed to control the seizures. The aims of our study were to evaluate whether color vision and macular function are impaired in epileptic adolescents, to study if the monotherapy with valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) can affect color vision and macular function and to determine the possible relationship between color vision, retinal function and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) dosage and their serum concentrations. We examined 45 (16 male and 29 female, mean age ± SD, 15.71 ± 2.01 years) Caucasian epileptic patients suffering from various types of cryptogenic epilepsy before the beginning of therapy and after 1 year of VPA or CBZ monotherapy and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Color vision was assessed by Farnsworth Munsell (FM) 100-hue test and total error score (TES) was evaluated. This test consists of colored caps: the testee has to arrange the caps according to their colors macular function was assessed by nyctometry evaluating initial recovery time (IRT) and summation method (SM). This test evaluates visual acuity after a period of intense illumination of macula. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the difference between controls and patients; moreover, Pearson's correlation test have been performed. Before the beginning of therapy, there were no differences in color vision and macular function between controls and epileptic patients. After 1 year, the patients, treated with VPA or CBZ, showed a deficit in FM 100-hue test. At nyctometry, all patients showed no significant variation of macular function between baseline evaluation and second evaluation at end of the follow-up. Our study demonstrates that, in our group of epileptic patients, epilepsy per se does not affect color vision and retinal function. In contrast, after 1 years of therapy with VPA and CBZ these patients showed a deficit in FM 100-hue test although nyctometry evaluation continued to be normal allowing to exclude an impairment in macular function. Further investigations are required to determine the pathophysiological alteration(s) that are at the basis of color perception defects. [source]


Sarcoidosis presenting with granulomatous uveitis induced by pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C

INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008
K. K. L. Yan
Abstract Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that is triggered by an autoimmune process, and is now a well recognized but uncommon complication of antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, likely related to its immunomodulatory effects. The clinical presentation of HCV related sarcoidosis is as varied as systemic sarcoidosis, but ocular presentation alone has not been reported previously. We present a 23 year-old female who developed visual disturbances due to ocular sarcoidosis during the course of antiviral therapy for chronic HCV infection. Our case presentation is then followed by a review of the literature on the topic. We aim to stress the importance of screening for eye problems in following HCV patients undergoing antiviral therapy, and raise clinicians' awareness of sarcoidosis as a possible cause for eye problems even in the absence of respiratory complaints. [source]


Methanol outbreak in Norway 2002,2004: epidemiology, clinical features and prognostic signs

JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2005
K. E. HOVDA
Abstract. Objectives., Knowledge on methanol poisoning does mainly come from clinical studies. We therefore report epidemiological, clinical and prognostic features from the large methanol outbreak in Norway in 2002,2004 where the new antidote fomepizole was the primary antidote in use. Design and subjects., Combined prospective and retrospective case series study of 51 hospitalized patients who were confirmed poisoned with methanol, of whom nine died. In addition, eight patients died outside hospital. Most patients were admitted in a late stage and because of symptoms. Treatment consisted of alkali, fomepizole (71%) and haemodialysis (73%). Results., The median serum methanol was 25.0 mmol L,1 (80 mg dL,1) (range 3.1,147.0 mmol L,1), median pH was 7.20 (6.50,7.50), and median base deficit 22 mmol L,1 (range 0,31). The most frequent clinical features reported were visual disturbances (55%), dyspnoea (41%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (43%). Twenty-four per cent were comatose on admission, of whom 67% died. There was a trend towards decreasing pCO2 with decreasing pH amongst the patients surviving. The opposite trend was demonstrated in the dying; the difference was highly significant by linear regression analyses (P < 0.001). Conclusions., Methanol poisoning still has a high morbidity and mortality, mainly because of late diagnosis and treatment. Respiratory arrest, coma and severe metabolic acidosis (pH < 6.90, base deficit >28 mmol L,1) upon admission were strong predictors of poor outcome. Early admission and ability of respiratory compensation of metabolic acidosis was associated with survival. [source]


Neuroimaging in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 2 2004
C. Lamy
ABSTRACT The terms posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy, reversibleposterior cerebral edema syndrome, and posterior reversibleencephalopathy syndrome(PRES) all refer to a clinicoradiologic entity characterized by headaches, confusion, visual disturbances, seizures, and posterior transient changes on neuroimaging. Clinical findings are not sufficiently specific to readily establish the diagnosis; in contrast, magnetic resonance imaging pattern is often characteristic and represents an essential component of the diagnosis of PRES. Typical lesions predominate in the posterior white matter, with some involvement of the overlying cortex; are hyperintense on T2-weighted images; and are usually hypointense or isointense on diffusion-weighted images, with an increase of the apparent diffusion coefficient, indicating vasogenic edema. The pathogenesis is incompletely understood, although it seems to be related to the breakthrough of autoregulation and endothelial dysfunction. Since its initial description, this syndrome has been subsequently described in an increasing number of medical conditions, including hypertensive encephalopathy, eclampsia, and the use of cytotoxic and immunosuppressive drugs. The diagnosis has important therapeutic and prognostic implications because the reversibility of the clinical and radiologic abnormalities is contingent on the prompt control of blood pressure and/or discontinuing the offending drug. On the contrary, when unrecognized, conversion to irreversible cytotoxic edema may occur. [source]


Posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome as a cause of reversible blindness during pregnancy

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2007
Lutfu S. Onderoglu
Abstract Cortical blindness is a rare and dramatic complication of pre-eclampsia. The precise nature of the pathogenesis of this condition has not previously been understood. Three preeclamptic patients with unremarkable previous medical history presented with acute blindness between the 28th and 33rd weeks of pregnancy. They were all diagnosed as posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PLES). In all these patients, MRI study revealed the typical feature of gray-white matter edema localized to the temporo-parieto-occipital areas. Vision and MRI findings were restored in all patients after delivery. Although PLES has been described as a puerperal clinicoradiologic entity, it may be seen in preeclamptic-eclamptic patients during the pregnancy. Therefore neuro-imaging studies should be carried out in pregnant patients with visual disturbances in order to exclude PLES. Prompt diagnosis, immediate control of blood pressure, and elimination of possible causes resolves clinical and imaging findings. [source]


Suspected pituitary apoplexy in a German shorthaired pointer

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE, Issue 11 2003
S. N. Long
Pituitary apoplexy is a syndrome which has been described in humans caused by acute haemorrhage or infarction within a pituitary tumour or a non-tumorous pituitary gland. This report describes the authors'observations of a dog in which vomiting, visual disturbances, seizures, altered consciousness and diencephalic dysfunction occurred in association with haemorrhage originating from a pituitary macroadenoma. The clinical signs were thought to be consistent with disruption of the hypothalamus and brainstem, together with raised intracranial pressure due to intraventricular haemorrhage. These signs, and the pathological findings, bear a striking resemblance to those associated with the syndrome of pituitary apoplexy, seen in humans. [source]


Primary necrotizing lymphocytic central nervous system vasculitis due to perforin deficiency in a four-year-old girl

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 3 2007
Despina Moshous
We report the case of a 4-year-old girl who presented with headaches, ataxia, and visual disturbances. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple supra- and infratentorial lesions with peripheral contrast enhancement and central necrosis. Brain biopsy revealed necrotizing lymphocytic vasculitis of undetermined etiology. Perforin expression was found to be significantly reduced in the patient's peripheral blood cells, and sequence analysis of the patient's perforin gene showed a compound heterozygous state with 1 nonsense mutation and 2 missense alterations in exon 2. Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis was thus attributed to the perforin deficiency, and the patient was successfully treated by transplantation of stem cells from an HLA-identical brother. The findings described herein indicate that, even in the absence of classic non-neurologic symptoms of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, measurement of perforin expression should be one of the diagnostic tests used to identify the cause of unexplained CNS vasculitis, since this may have profound implications regarding therapy. [source]


2211: The utility of a rabbit model of adenovirus ocular infection

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010
E ROMANOWSKI
Acute adenovirus ocular infections are the most common ocular viral infections worldwide and are associated with community and medical facility epidemics. While not permanently blinding, ocular adenoviral infections are associated with significant patient morbidity, including symptomatic distress with visual disturbances which can last years, and loss of time from school or work. Currently, the treatment of these acute infections is symptomatic due to the lack of an approved antiviral. This symptomatic treatment presents a controversy of whether to treat these viral infections with immunomodulating agents (e.g. topical corticosteroids, NSAIDs, cyclosporine A), which are contraindicated for use in the treatment of the other major external ocular viral infection, HSV-1 epithelial keratitis. The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)/New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit ocular model has provided data for potential clinical guidelines for the use of immunomodulating agents in the treatment of adenovirus ocular infections. Moreover, this model has been used extensively to evaluate promising candidate antivirals for adenovirus. Multiple candidate antivirals have been evaluated in vivo using this model, and several have proceeded to human clinical trials. The current presentation will discuss the potential clinical guidelines for the use of immunomodulating agents, present data on potential new topical antiviral agents, discuss the potential combination therapy of an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent in the treatment of adenovirus ocular infections as well as the limitations of the model. Commercial interest [source]


Crystal deposits on the lens capsules in Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy associated with a mutation in the CYP4V2 gene

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2010
Yumiko Yokoi
Abstract. Purpose:, We report a patient (Case 1) with Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) associated with previously unknown findings of crystal-like deposits on the anterior and posterior lens capsules. This patient is one of four (Cases 1,4) in whom we have found BCD associated with the same mutation in the CYP4V2 gene. Methods:, We present a case report with molecular diagnosis. A 45-year-old man (Case 1) was referred to our clinic with complaints of gradual progression of visual disturbances and night blindness. His visual acuity was limited to hand movement bilaterally. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy disclosed glistening, crystal-like deposits on the anterior and posterior lens capsules, as well as on the corneal stroma near the corneoscleral limbus. No such deposit was found in the lens stroma. Fundus examination disclosed profound chorioretinal atrophy with scarce crystal deposits. Full-field electroretinography showed extinguished responses of isolated rods, isolated cones, and mixed rods and cones. Results:, Molecular genetic analysis revealed that the subject had a homozygous mutation in the CYP4V2 gene (IVS6,8delTCATACAGGTCATCGCG/insGC), which is most commonly found in Japanese patients with BCD. Three other cases (Cases 2,4) of BCD associated with the same mutation did not show such crystal-like deposits on the lens surface. Conclusions:, Although their exact origin remains unknown, crystal-like deposits may appear on the lens capsule of patients with BCD associated with a mutation in the CYP4V2 gene. [source]


Evaluation of spatial contrast sensitivity after the instillation of diclofenac eye drops

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009
V KARAMPATAKIS
Purpose To evaluate if diclofenac eye drop instillation is related with spatial contrast sensitivity (CS) impairment. Methods Thirty ophthalmologically healthy Caucasian individuals (--male, --female), aged from 20 to 59 underwent CS testing. The examination was repeated 20 and 40 minutes after the instillation of diclofenac eye drops unilaterally. The fellow eye served as control. Results All the examined individuals had normal visual acuity, color vision and CS before the diclofenac drop instillation. Four of them complained of a temporary glare at the eye in which diclofenac was instilled. These four individuals had decreased CS in low spatial frequencies (1.5 & 3 cycles/degree), in the examination performed 20 minutes after the instillation. The CS normalized again in the third CS evaluation performed 40 minutes after the instillation. Conclusion The temporary glare that affects visual performance of some individuals after diclofenac eye drop instillation is related with a temporary decrease of spatial CS in low frequencies. Within this time period of 40 minutes after the instillation of diclofenac, individuals who experience visual disturbances should avoid activities that demand high visual efficacy or postpone the instillation for a more convenient time in relation to the duration of glare they have experienced. [source]


Morphological study of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) by multiplanar optical coherence tomography

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009
Yoshiko Takai
Abstract. Purpose:, We set out to determine whether morphological retinal changes occur in patients with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR). Methods:, Five patients diagnosed with AZOOR were studied. They included two men and three women, with an age range of 23,51 years. Symptoms and findings were retrospectively and prospectively collected. The three-dimensional multiplanar optical coherence tomography (OCT) Ophthalmoscope® was used to examine the morphology of the retina in patients who were examined between April 2000 to December 2004. Standardized full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) and multifocal ERGs (mfERGs) were recorded. Results:, All the patients reported an acute onset of visual disturbances including a decrease of central vision and photopsia. The a- and b-waves of full-field ERGs were decreased, and the mfERGs in the central area were reduced. Ophthalmoscopic examination showed no obvious fundus abnormalities. OCT Ophthalmoscopic® images of a cross-sectional plane revealed hyporeflection at the level of the photoreceptor layer in the macular region in three of five patients, and presence of one or two layers in which the inner/outer segment junction of the photoreceptor layer was absent in the other two patients. En-face, constant depth C-scans, which present the image parallel to the retina, revealed an abnormal, patchy hyper-reflection in the affected eyes of two patients and in the non-affected eye in one of these two patients. Conclusions:, The changes in OCT Ophthalmoscope® B-scan images indicate morphological damage to the photoreceptors, which probably accounts for the functional alterations. The alterations in the C-scan image in the normal fellow eye of one patient suggest that morphological changes may precede symptomatic changes. [source]


Choroidal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2000
In Taek Kim
ABSTRACT. Purpose: To report a patient with choroidal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Methods: A solitary tumor was found in the left eye of a 49-year-old male who had no definite history of systemic disorders, but had observed visual disturbances for a period of 1 month. Ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography were performed and the eyeball was enucleated. We prepared the specimen for microscopic examinations. Results: Fluorescein angiographic findings of the lesion were mottled hyperfluorescence in the arteriovenous phase and strong hyperfluorescence in the late phase. Hypofluorescence in both early and late phases showed on indocyanine green angiogram. The lesion of choroid was widely infiltrated by histiocytes, though no extraocular invasion was found. Immunohistochemical studies including S-100 and CD 68 staining revealed characteristic features of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis. Electron microscopic examination of the histiocytes showed histiocytosis X body (Birbeck granule) in the cytoplasm and indented nucleus. Conclusion: We consider that this is a case of choroidal Langerhans' cell histiocytosis with no evidence of systemic lesions. [source]


Visual neurophysiological dysfunction in infants exposed to hydroxychloroquine in utero

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2009
F Renault
Abstract Aim:, Hydroxychloroquine therapy during pregnancy is thought to be safe for foetuses. Normal visual function has been showed on clinical grounds in infants exposed in utero to hydroxychloroquine, but there are few visual neurophysiological data. Our study was designed to assess retina and visual pathways using electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials in a series of infants born to mothers treated by hydroxychloroquine for connective tissue diseases. Methods:, Twenty-one infants (3,7 months of age) were consecutively examined between June 2002 and May 2007. Full-field electroretinogram was recorded by contact lens electrodes and visual evoked potentials were recorded by occipital surface electrodes using flash stimulation in mesopic condition. Analysis was focused on the amplitudes and latencies of the a - and b -waves of electroretinogram and the latency of the P100 component of visual evoked potentials. Results:, Electroretinogram abnormalities were detected in six infants, associated with delayed visual evoked potentials in four of them. Conclusion:, Early electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials testing evidenced neurophysiological visual disturbances in a subset of infants born to mothers treated by hydroxychloroquine. Systematic clinical and neurophysiological vision testing during childhood is needed to detect possible consequences of antenatal exposure to hydroxychloroquine. [source]


Keratotic vascular papules over the feet: a case of Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia-associated cutaneous macroglobulinosis

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
M. Harnalikar
Summary Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is a plasma-cell dyscrasia characterized by the monoclonal proliferation of lymphoplasmacytes. A 48-year-old man presented with a 4-year history of multiple painful, hyperkeratotic deep-seated papules over the pressure areas of both soles. He had a 1-year history of Raynaud's phenomenon, intermittent epistaxis, recurrent vomiting, tingling and numbness, and visual disturbances. Histological examination of a skin biopsy found amyloid-like deposits in the upper and mid dermis involving dermal blood vessels, but apart from periodic-acid,Schiff, various stains gave negative results for amyloid. Direct immunofluorescence was positive for IgM antibody. Hence, a diagnosis of WM with cutaneous macroglobulinosis was made. Immunoelectrophoresis found monoclonal IgM kappa antibody, and bone-marrow examination revealed a lymphoplasmacytoid malignancy. The patient's systemic systems were attributed to hyperviscosity syndrome associated with WM and the cutaneous papules were identified as deposits of excess IgM antibodies. The patient received five cycles of chemotherapy, resulting in nearly complete resolution of the skin lesions and systemic symptoms. [source]