Retinopathy Associated with Adjuvant Interferon in a Patient with Malignant Melanoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Author(s):  
Mahmut Dogan

Interferons are kinds of proteins with immuneregulatory, antiviral and anti-proliferative functions. Interferons are widely used worldwide for the treatment of many diseases including cancer, hepatit C and immune mediated disease such as multiple sclerosis. Long-term use of interferons have some side effects. However, interferons have ophthalmologic side effects. Ocular toxicity may occur at any time during treatment. There is no association between the dose or duration of interferon treatment and ocular toxicity. Although visual acuity returns to normal in most patients when interferon is discontinued, vision loss may be permanent.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Khalili ◽  
Athar Zareei

Abstract Background Closantel is the best-known anti-parasitic medicine for veterinarians, which is contraindicated in humans. After reviewing the literature on ocular toxicity following mistaken usage of Closantel in humans, this report was found as the first complete restoration of visual function after Closantel intoxication. This report could be useful in anticipating the possibility of a further improvement based on a dose-response relationship. An important point of this report is the apparent reversibility of the vision and Electrophysiological parameters after Closantel intoxication and blindness. To conclude, the present case report demonstrates the importance of immediate referral and management in Closantel intoxication to avoid the long-term adverse effects of drug on visual function. Case presentation A 47-year-old man mistakenly took about 20 cc of Closantel 5% (15.87 mg/kg). Four hours after mistaken usage of Closantel, he was transferred to the district hospital due to dizziness and nausea. His stomach was washed out immediately after hospital arrival. He was being hospitalized in that hospital for 3 days. Then, he was referred to our clinic due to progressive vision loss. Methylprednisolone acetate 250 mg was injected once on 5th day after taking Closantel. His vision was reducing gradually so low that he could only detect hand motion (HM) on the 14th day after taking Closantel. ERG test was requested. It showed an exclusive reduction in b-wave amplitude under photopic and scotopic conditions. Later, his vision surprisingly improved gradually and his visual acuity was fully restored on the 28th day after the incident. After 3 years, we checked him again. His visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and the patient did not have any problem and his ERG report was completely normal. Conclusions In low dose of Closantel and immediate referral, ocular toxicity could be resolved.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Högerle ◽  
EL Bulut ◽  
L Klotz ◽  
F Eichhorn ◽  
M Eichhorn ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110212
Author(s):  
Akaansha Ganju ◽  
James C. Stock ◽  
Kim Jordan

Alemtuzumab is an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody used to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis following failure of second-line medications. It is administered intravenously in 2 treatment sequences 1 year apart. This drug is frequently associated with mild infusion reactions within days of administration, increased infection risk, and long term adverse events from secondary autoimmunity. Alemtuzumab-induced serious immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) is well-reported and occurred in 1.0-2.2% of participants in initial phase 2 and 3 trials for multiple sclerosis. Significant neutropenia, however, is rare and was only observed in 0.1% of study participants. Delayed neutropenia and/or ITP is thought to occur from secondary autoimmunity. Few case reports have described severe neutropenia occurring beyond 2 months of last alemtuzumab dose. We present an unusual case of delayed combined neutropenia and thrombocytopenia that occurred 15 months after the second infusion of alemtuzumab. The patient was asymptomatic and presented following discovery of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia during routine laboratory studies. The patient responded to steroids initially and was discharged, although outpatient cell counts subsequently revealed recurrent neutropenia and ITP. The adverse drug reaction probability (Naranjo) scale was completed and showed probable likelihood that the adverse event was alemtuzumab-related. Long term screening for delayed hematologic abnormalities, at least 4 years after initial dose, is necessary when using alemtuzumab. Greater research is needed to understand the mechanism of drug-associated neutropenia.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 416-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Tubridy ◽  
R Addison ◽  
F Schon

The benefit of desmopressin (DDAVP) in the treatment of the urinary symptoms of multiple sclerosis has until now only been shown in short crossover studies of up to 6 weeks. We report 19 patient who have used the drug for an average of 2 years and 4 months, 18 of whom confirmed continued dramatic benefit without any obvious change in dosage used or efficacy and with few side effects. Ten of the 19 patienit had also used DDAVP during daytime for special occasions with notable success. This is the first study to suggest that DDAVP is safe and effective in long term use in MS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Lucile Giraud ◽  
Maud Girod ◽  
Laurent Cauzinille

ABSTRACT Treatment with high corticosteroid dosages for steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) is correlated with severe adverse effects and worse quality of life. In order to improve immunosuppression and decrease dosage and duration of glucocorticoid treatment, a second immunosuppressive drug is commonly used in most of the immune-mediated diseases. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and occurrence of relapse for the combination of prednisolone and azathioprine. All dogs received azathioprine 2 mg/kg q 24 hr for 1 mo and then 2 mg/kg every other day for 2 mo; prednisolone was started at an immunosuppressive dosage and tapered off gradually during a mean of 3 mo. Twenty-six dogs met inclusion criteria. Twenty-one dogs (81%) were in clinical remission with no relapse observed within the 2 yr follow-up period. Treatment was well tolerated in all dogs and side effects were most of the time mild and self-limiting. The relapse rate (19%) was lower than most published rates. A prednisolone and azathioprine combination appeared to be effective for primary treatment of dogs with SRMA and allows a quicker tapering in prednisolone dosage, a decrease in long-term side effects of steroids, a shorter duration of treatment, and a low relapse rate.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Carvalho ◽  
Paulo Freitas-Costa ◽  
João Pinheiro-Costa ◽  
Manuel Falcão ◽  
Ângela Carneiro ◽  
...  

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathological myopia is one of the leading causes of irreversible central vision loss in younger patients. The purposes of our study is to evaluate the long-term results of antiangiogenic treatment, with ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab, in myopic choroidal neovascularization and define the predictive factors for visual and anatomic outcomes.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> In this study were included 84 eyes from 81 patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization. Eighty-four (100%) eyes accomplish 12 months of follow-up, 67 (79.8%) 24 months, 54 (64.3%) 36 months, 29 (34.5%) 48 months, and 15 (16.7%) 60 months. We retrieved data related to best corrected visual acuity measured with ETDRS chart, foveal center thickness on optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiographic findings, before and after treatment.<br />Results: The best corrected visual acuity and foveal center thickness improvements were statistically significant for all follow-up times (p &lt; 0.05). Mean baseline best corrected visual acuity was 43.7 ± 20.1 letters and mean baseline foveal center thickness was 304.8 ± 127.9μm. Mean best corrected visual acuity was 55.6 ± 18.5, 52.1 ± 22.3, 52.1 ± 22.6, 50.3 ± 23.8 and 47.8 ± 24.5 for 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months of treatment, respectively. Mean foveal center thickness was 209.7 ± 86.2, 190.6 ± 76.1, 174.7 ± 60.6, 189.8 ± 96.7 and 159.4 ± 73.3 for the same follow-up times. Baseline best corrected visual acuity was the only predictive factor for better visual outcome (p &lt; 0.001).<br /><strong>Discussion/Conclusion:</strong> Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization yielded a significant and sustained functional and anatomic improvement. Randomized long-term clinical trials are needed to determine the sustained efficacy of these drugs.


Author(s):  
Christopher Power ◽  
Joseph M. Antony ◽  
Kristofor K. Ellestad ◽  
André Deslauriers ◽  
Rakesh Bhat ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT:The human microbiome is comprised of commensal and pathogenic microorganisms, which exert diverse effects in close proximity to the site of intection as well as in remote tissues through immune-mediated mechanisms. Multiple infectious agents have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) with variable findings depending on the agent, techniques, and disease phenotype. Herein, the contributions of individual infectious agents to MS and their effects on the immune and nervous systems are reviewed, focusing on herpes viruses, coronaviruses, retroviruses, and synchronic infections. While infectious agents are often assumed to be pathogenic, their effects might also be beneficial to the host in the long-term, depending on age and the type of immunogen/pathogen exposure, as proposed by the hygiene hypothesis. The human microbiome has potential impact on future diagnostic and therapeutic issues in MS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devindra Sood ◽  
Aanchal Rathore ◽  
Ishaana Sood ◽  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Narender N. Sood

Purpose: Vision loss in Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), a rare congenital disorder, is primarily due to glaucoma. Methods: We reviewed the data of all consecutive SWS-associated glaucoma cases in patients who had undergone combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy (CTT) at a tertiary glaucoma facility between January 1993 and December 2015. We analyzed the preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal clarity, visual acuity, success rate, need for repeat surgery, and number of topical antiglaucoma medications needed at last follow-up. Results: Twenty-six eyes of 20 patients with SWS (surgical age 0.7-96 months; mean 18.64 ± 29.74 months) had undergone primary CTT. The mean preoperative IOP was 32.76 ± 7.86 mm Hg (range 22-54 mm Hg) with medication (mean 3.11 ± 1.17; range 1-5). At the last follow-up (61-288 months); mean SD 134.73 ± 67.77 months), two eyes had IOP <6 mm Hg. Twenty-four eyes analyzed had an IOP of 13.63 ± 6.11 (mean ± SD; range 9-41) mm Hg. All these had an IOP <15 mm Hg at last follow-up except one, which had an IOP of 41 mm Hg. There was a mean reduction of 54.62% ± 31.33% in IOP from baseline. The antiglaucoma medication score at last follow-up visit was 0-3. No eye achieved predefined complete success or modified complete success. A total of 41.7% (10/24) of eyes attained both qualified and modified qualified success. Eleven eyes needed repeat surgeries. No intraoperative complications were noted. Visual acuity was below 6/60 in four eyes. Conclusions: Combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy showed promising results as a treatment for SWS-associated glaucoma in children. Long-term visual and surgical outcomes are encouraging.


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