scholarly journals Prevalence of ocular inflammation among patients with active tuberculosis or nontuberculous mycobacterial infections in a tertiary hospital in Japan: a retrospective observational study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromi Ohara ◽  
Yosuke Harada ◽  
Tomona Hiyama ◽  
Ken Yamane ◽  
Maria Higaki ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of ocular involvement among patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection in a Japanese hospital.Materials and Methods Patients with active TB or NTM infection at Yoshijima Hospital from April 2017 to July 2018 were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent ophthalmic examinations, including fundus evaluation under pupil dilation, before initiation of antibiotic therapy. Patients with ocular inflammation were regularly followed up by ophthalmologists.Results In total, 101 patients with active TB and 27 patients with active NTM infection underwent ophthalmic examinations during the study period. No ocular symptoms were reported. Seven patients with TB (6.9%) had ocular inflammation; four had bilateral involvement. In these seven patients, ocular inflammation comprised retinal vasculitis (n=2), anterior uveitis (n=2), choroiditis (n=2), and vitritis (n=1). Female sex was associated with higher prevalence of ocular inflammation among patients with TB. Conversely, no patients with NTM infection had ocular inflammation.Conclusion Ocular inflammation was present in approximately 7% of patients with active TB. Although TB choroiditis is presumed to be rare in Japan, approximately 30% of the patients with ocular inflammation exhibited choroidal lesions in this study. In contrast, no ocular inflammation was observed among patients with systemic NTM infection.

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-333
Author(s):  
Shannon Armstrong-Kempter ◽  
Lucinda Beech ◽  
Sarah J. Melov ◽  
Adrienne Kirby ◽  
Roshini Nayyar

Background: The discovery of the benefits of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) for preterm infants was one of the most significant developments in obstetric care. However, due to the difficulty in predicting preterm delivery, optimal use of ACS, is challenging. Objective: To describe prescribing practices for antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) at a tertiary hospital over five years to determine whether ACS were received at optimal timing; to determine patient characteristics of women receiving ACS at optimal timing; to determine patient characteristics of those who did not receive ACS as indicated and to examine the trend in ACS prescribing over the study period. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all deliveries from January 2011 to December 2015. The rates of ACS prescription for each group of women (preterm, late preterm, and term) were recorded and analysed. Results: A total of 65% of women who delivered before 34 weeks’ gestation received ACS. Of these women, 63% delivered within 7 days of receiving ACS. Women most likely to receive ACS with optimal timing were primiparous (relative risk [RR], 1.25 [CI, 1.08-1.45]), or women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia (RR, 1.34 [CI 1.10-1.63]), preterm premature rupture of membranes (RR, 1.33 [CI, 1.15-1.54]) or threatened preterm labour (RR, 1.42 [CI, 1.22-1.65]). Conclusion: A significant number of women and babies are exposed to ACS without commensurate benefit, and a significant number who deliver preterm do not receive ACS. The percentage of preterm and term infants receiving ACS should be determined to optimise service delivery.


Author(s):  
Joanna Dolar-Szczasny ◽  
Mario D. Toro ◽  
Anna Dworzańska ◽  
Tomasz Wójtowicz ◽  
Izabela Korona-Glowniak ◽  
...  

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the current human COVID-19 pandemic has shown tropism toward different organs with variable efficiency, eyes included. The purpose of this study has been to investigate the presence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 infection in ocular swabs in patients affected by COVID-19. A consecutive series of 74 COVID-19-positive patients (age 21–89) were enrolled at two Polish COVID-19 hospitals for 4 months and were characterized by PCR for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in nasopharyngeal (NP) and ocular swabs, while their respiratory and ocular symptoms were noted. Almost 50% of them presented with severe/critical respiratory involvement, and some degree of eye disease. No tight correlation was observed between the presence of ocular and respiratory symptoms. Three male patients presenting with severe/critical lung disease tested positive in ocular swab, however with mild/moderate ocular symptoms. In conclusion, our study lends further support to the view that overt ocular infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not such a frequent occurrence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1108.1-1108
Author(s):  
D. Monova ◽  
S. Monov ◽  
R. Shumnalieva ◽  
D. Dimova ◽  
M. Sotirova

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common systemic autoimmune disease and is associated with a number of extra-articular organ manifestations, including ocular complications.Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of ocular manifestation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:The study involved 87 patients with RA. All the study subjects underwent complete ophthalmological examination involving visual acuity assessment, examination of anterior and posterior eye segments, Schirmer’s test, diameter and mobility of pupils, as well as eyeball mobility assessment of intraocular pressure. Data regarding age, gender, disease duration, age at diagnosis, systemic corticosteroid use, blood pressure, ocular symptoms and detailed ophthalmic history were recorded. The presence of rheumatoid factor in serum was evaluated by standard test methods based on principle of agglutination. All patients were seropositive.Results:87 patients (26 male, 59 female, mean age 45,6 ± 13,1 years; mean disease duration 7,4 ± 6,2 years) with RA were enrolled in this study. 31 (35,63 %) of them had no ocular symptoms. Among the patients with ocular symptoms, 39 (69,64 %) complained of decreased vision, 33 (58,93 %) - of dry eye, 32 (57,14 %) - of burning, 29 (51,78 %) -photophobia, 28 (50 %) - of gritty sensation, 27 (48,21 %) - of itching, 18 (32,14 %) - of redness, 13 (23,21 %) - of ocular pain, 3 (5,36 %) - of floaters. Ophthalmological examination revealed higher incidence of the following abnormalities in the study group: myopic astigmatism - in 10 (5,74 %) eyes, vascular abnormalities within fundus - in 22 (12,64 %) eyes, increased intraocular pressure (> 21 mm Hg) - in 11 (6,32 %) eyes. Mean IOP values were 17,34 ± 5,12 mm Hg. In 48 eyes Schirmer’s test results were below 10 mm, and in 18 eyes - below 5 mm. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was present in 31 (35,63 %) of all patients. Episcleritis was diagnosed in 4 patients (4,6 %), scleritis – in 3 (3,45 %). Retinal vasculitis was present in 2 (2,3 %) patients and involves veins and arteries peripheral branches. Lens opacity was found in 13 (14,94 %) patients (21 eyes), mostly in the form of posterior subcapsular cataract (in 16 eyes) and nuclear cataract (in 5 eyes). The mean age of patients with cataracts was 52,3 ± 14,2 years. 13 of the patients with cataracts were either currently taking or had previously taken systemic corticosteroids.Conclusion:In patients with RA numerous abnormalities within the vision of organ may be found. Ocular symptoms are relatively common complications of RA, and may result in irreversible changes in the organ of vision. Regular ophthalmological examinations are essential among the patients with RA.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2318
Author(s):  
Julie Gueudry ◽  
Mathilde Leclercq ◽  
David Saadoun ◽  
Bahram Bodaghi

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis disease of unknown origin occurring in young people, which can be venous, arterial or both, classically occlusive. Ocular involvement is particularly frequent and severe; vascular occlusion secondary to retinal vasculitis may lead to rapid and severe loss of vision. Biologics have transformed the management of intraocular inflammation. However, the diagnosis of BD is still a major challenge. In the absence of a reliable biological marker, diagnosis is based on clinical diagnostic criteria and may be delayed after the appearance of the onset sign. However, therapeutic management of BD needs to be introduced early in order to control inflammation, to preserve visual function and to limit irreversible structural damage. The aim of this review is to provide current data on how innovations in clinical evaluation, investigations and treatments were able to improve the prognosis of uveitis associated with BD.


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