To study visual and neurological outcome after treatment according to ONTT protocol

To evaluate the visual and neurological outcomes of Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT). 40 Patients presenting with optic neuritis were enrolled in this study to analyze the Visual and Neurological outcomes after treatment according to ONTT Protocol, with emphasis on signs of anaemia, protein calorie malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, generalized lymphadenopathy, sinusitis, septic foci. Patients were followed up for three subsequent visits to assess the rate of visual recovery.Maximum patient 35(87.5) treated according to ONTT protocol while 5 (12.5%) treated with oral steroids alone. Maximum 33 eyes (70.2%) attain BCVA > 6/36 after 1st follow-up (with in 1 month) while 10(21.3%) eyes attain BCVA of 6/6 after 1st follow-up. 11 eyes (25.6%) attain BCVA 6/6 after II follow-up. General prognosis for recovery of vision was good and was slightly worse in more severely affected cases in the present series. Pallor of the optic disc and defect of vision did not always correspond–3 eyes which showed temporal of the disc at the end of follow up had a final vision of 6/9 or better in each eye.

Therapeutic Management of Ocular Ischemia in Takayasu’s Arteritis: A Case-Based Systematic Review

BackgroundTakayasu’s arteritis (TA) is a rare, chronic granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis that can lead to ocular ischemia. Ocular outcomes after therapeutic management in TA remain largely unknown. We herein conduct a case-based systematic review to address the current treatment options in this particular cohort.MethodsPubMed, Medline, and EMBASE databases were searched pertaining to ocular outcomes after systemic treatment in TA. Studies reporting ocular examinations before and after treatment in TA patients with ocular ischemia were included. Clinical characteristics, therapies, ocular outcomes, and complications were recorded.ResultsA 29-year-old woman with newly diagnosed TA showed dramatic regression of Takayasu’s retinopathy (TR) following balloon angioplasty. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used as a novel strategy for subsequent follow-up. A total of 117 eyes of 66 patients with a median age of 27 years were included for systematic review. TR was the most common ocular manifestation. Oral steroids were prescribed in nearly all patients (n = 65), followed by the use of methotrexate and antiplatelet therapy. Of the patients, 65.8% and 34.2% underwent open surgery and endovascular procedure, respectively. The median follow-up period was 12 weeks (interquartile range 8–33.5). Surgical therapy showed better ocular improvement (including visual and imaging responses) in both acute and chronic vision loss, along with fewer complications than medical therapy alone. In the surgical group, the visual prognosis was significantly better in patients with initial visual acuity better than 20/200 (p = 0.03) and those who underwent surgery before stage III TR (p = 0.01). Ocular outcomes were equivalent in the two surgical approaches.ConclusionClinicians should be familiar with ophthalmic manifestations of this potentially treatable complication in TA. Compared with medical therapy alone, surgical intervention might be a better choice for both acute and chronic vision loss. Surgery is best recommended before the onset of irreversible ischemia to the globe. A combined regimen (oral steroids, immunosuppressants, and antiplatelet drugs) might be effective for those with surgical contradictions or reluctance to an invasive procedure. Physicians should be aware of the importance of ocular examinations, including OCTA, during the diagnosis and follow-up in TA.

Case of leprosy mimicking preseptal cellulitis: a diagnostic dilemma

A 36-year-old Asian man presented with swelling over the left frontal region involving the upper eyelids, with associated erythema and tenderness for 1 month duration. Clinically he was diagnosed as a case of preseptal cellulitis, however, the lesion did not improve on broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics. CT showed superficial soft tissue swelling in the forehead extending till the superior part of orbit. Histopathological assessment of the lesion revealed clusters of epithelioid cells with multinucleate giant cells in the dermis along with perivascular and periadnexal lymphocytic infiltrates, suggestive of leprosy. The patient was started on oral steroids with multidrug therapy, following which the patient showed early resolution of the lesion within 10 days of treatment. Leprosy is endemic in India, leprosy with reactional episodes mimics other inflammatory and infective etiologies making diagnosis difficult. Leprosy should be present in an ophthalmologist’s diagnostic repertoire while dealing with periorbital swellings for early clinical diagnosis and favourable outcomes.

Polymerase Chain Reaction Confirmed Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Intermediate Uveitis – Analysis of 22 Eyes of 14 Cases From a Tertiary Care Centre in South India.

Background: To report the role of Polymerase Chain Reaction in confirming the diagnosis of presumed mycobacterium Tuberculous Intermediate Uveitis. Method: Retrospective analysis of 22 eyes of 14 cases of presumed tubercular intermediate uveitis wherein intraocular fluid was tested for MTB DNA by Nested & Real time PCR, based on clinical suspicion of tubercular aetiology. QuantiFERON TB gold test and High Resolution CT Chest were done. Patients were treated with anti-tubercular therapy with oral steroids & immunomodulators. In the study, eleven were male (79%) and three female (21%). The median age was 34 years. Nested PCR for both IS 6110 & MPB 64 was positive in 64% of the cases, IS 6110 positive in 23% and MPB 64 positive in 15%. Real time PCR was positive in 48% of the cases. Vision improved in 33% cases, maintained in 57% cases and worsened in 10 % of cases. Conclusion: Presumed Tubercular intermediate uveitis can be confirmed by PCR of intraocular fluids. Anti-tubercular therapy with immunosuppression can improve vision and prevent recurrences in such cases.

Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids or Oral Steroids in a COVID-19 Telemedicine Cohort: Retrospective Chart Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND We identified patients with coronavirus disease 2019 that were followed by a telemedicine clinic and eventually referred to a post COVID clinic due to persistent symptoms of COVID-19. Of those patients requiring referral to the post COVID clinic, equal percentages of patients treated acutely with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and/ or oral steroids required referral to a pulmonary specialist. OBJECTIVE To determine if there was a difference in long term outcomes when prescribed ICS versus oral steroids METHODS Chart review comparing new prescription ICS to new prescription oral steroid RESULTS No difference in long term outcome between the groups CONCLUSIONS It is safe to prescribe ICS or oral steroids for symptom relief, but cost may be an issue

A Case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease-Like Uveitis Induced by Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Combination Therapy

Nivolumab and ipilimumab are widely used immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. ICPIs cause an array of side effects called immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) due to activation of an immune response. ICPI-uveitis can cause irreversible vision loss if untreated. There are few reports of recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease-like uveitis induced by nivolumab and ipilimumab. We report a case of VKH disease-like uveitis recurrence after resuming ICPIs. A 73-year-old man with advanced melanoma was referred to our clinic with visual loss 25 days after starting nivolumab/ipilimumab. His corrected visual acuity was 0.5 in the right eye and 0.02 in the left eye. Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) showed marked choroid thickening. The patient was diagnosed with VKH disease-like uveitis due to IRAEs. Subtenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide was performed, and nivolumab/ipilimumab was suspended, but serous retinal detachment (SRD) markedly worsened and choroidal detachment appeared. With 2 courses of steroid pulse therapy and oral steroids, SRD disappeared, and corrected visual acuity recovered in both eyes. Five months after the first injection, exacerbation of melanoma was observed, and nivolumab and oral steroids were restarted. Six weeks later, an increase in choroidal thickness was observed with EDI-OCT and diagnosed as a recurrence of VKH disease-like uveitis. Monitoring for the recurrence of VKH disease-like uveitis during the administration of ICPIs, even after uveitis is treated, is essential. Assessment of choroidal thickness with EDI-OCT may be useful for detecting early signs of VKH disease-like uveitis.

A case of subretinal hemorrhage due to choroidal tear in right eye following blunt trauma in a 35 years old female

A 35-year-old Asian Indian female presented to our institute with a history of fall on road and accidental hit by stone over her right eyebrow, grossly no anterior segment abnormality was noted. On dilated fundus examination, a superotemporal choroidal tear was noted which led to choroidal hemorrhage. Patient was managed conservatively by giving oral steroids and tablet vitamin C. After 2 months of treatment there was complete resolution of the lesion with a final best corrected visual acuity of 6/6.

Immunoglobulin (IgG4) Sclerosing Cholecystitis- Camouflaging Gall Bladder Cancer- A Case Report and Review of Literature

Background: IgG4 related disease is a rare systemic disorder having an underlying autoimmune cause. These disorders mainly affects pancreatico biliary tree i.e. pancreas, gall bladder and biliary tree (extrahepatic as well intrahepatic),but can also affect other part of body.Majority of disorders involving biliary tree are associated with autoimmune pancreatitis component.These disorders are difficult to diagnose clinically as they can mimic inflammatory as well malignancy and poses a real diagnostic challenge to manage and treat.Case presentation: 64 years old female known diabetic evaluated for pain in right hypochondrium. Gall bladder cancer was suspected clinically as well on radiologically basis. Patient underwent extended cholecystectomy as it was a resectable disease.Final histopathology revealed immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related cholecystitis which was confirmed after immunohistochemistry for CD 138 and IgG4.This disease could be managed conservatively by giving oral steroids ,if it has been picked up preoperatively and major surgical intervention have been avoided. No defined blood test or tumour markers are currently available to diagnose this entity except serum immunoglobulin G4 which is costly and not feasible to get done in all patients especially in developing nations like India.Conclusion: IgG4 cholecystitis is an immune mediated disease whose pathophysiology is still not completely understood. Every clinician should keep possibility of IgG4 cholecystitis in mind whenever any patient with abnormal gall bladder thickening or gall bladder mass is encountered in their clinical practice, as both these entities have completely different options of treatment. We should not rely solely upon clinical and radiological picture.

Recurrent Toxoplasma Retinitis Treated with Long-Term Oral Antibiotics

Purpose: The purpose of this case was to report the inhibition of toxoplasma retinitis reactivation with long-term, low-dose antibiotics.Case summary: A 76-year-old woman complained of poor vision and floaters in her right eye. The corrected visual acuity (LogMAR) of the right eye was 0.5, and there was an area of yellow infiltration and dye leakage on the retinal fluorescein angiography images. Toxoplasma IgG were detected in the serum, the patient was diagnosed with toxoplasma retinitis, and the patient was advised oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, and steroids. Her visual acuity improved and the inflammation resolved. However, she again had decreased visual activity and retinal inflammation in her right eye after 5 months. The inflammation improved with oral steroids, but she was shifted to intravitreal dexamethasone because of the side effects of systemic steroids. Although the inflammation improved initially, there was worsening of inflammation (evidenced by vitreous opacity) after 2 months, which was treated with oral antibiotics. After vitrectomy for the removal of residual vitreous opacity, antibiotics were stopped because of the stable disease course. After discontinuation of the antibiotics, inflammation was noted again, and low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was administered. Low-dose antibiotics were continued for 5 months and the disease remained stable without any retinal inflammation.Conclusions: Long-term, low-dose oral antibiotics may prevent reactivation of recurrent toxoplasma retinitis.

Review of Single Centre Experience with Bronchial Thermoplasty in Obesity

BackgroundBronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic procedure that aims to reduce symptoms in patients with severe asthma by delivering controlled radiofrequency activations to reduce airway smooth muscle mass who are uncontrolled despite adequate therapy.ObjectiveTo evaluate response and outcomes of BT in asthma patients with obesity.MethodsA retrospective review of patients who had BT for severe asthma performed at our institution. We examined baseline differences in eosinophil, IgE levels, controller agent uses before and after BT, symptomatology and exacerbation rates post-procedure. A comparative analysis was done using t-test for unequal variables for those reported to have benefitted from the procedure against those who did not.ResultsIn total 23 patients were studied, 18 (78%) noted benefit from BT. Patients were predominantly female, 21/23 (91%) with average BMI of 37.9 and 35.3 kg/m2 in improved and not improved groups. Patients with improvement following completion of all three BT procedures were likely to be weaned off chronic oral steroids or biologicals, reduced albuterol uses, report a subjective improvement in symptoms or reduced exacerbations within 1 year following completion of procedures. There was a statistically significant average weight loss reduction in the improved group compared to not benefitted of 6.4kg versus a gain of 2.5kg; hospitalization rates for exacerbations were higher than those reported in the AIR2 and PAS2 studies at 43%.ConclusionBT can be beneficial for obese patients with a potential decrease in exacerbations and reduced oral corticosteroid dosage and an anticipated increased rate of post-procedure exacerbation hospitalization.