Prevalence of ocular hypertension and glaucoma in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease

Purpose: To compare densities of corneal epithelial dendritic cells (DCs), corneal subbasal nerves, and conjunctival epithelial immune cells (EICs) between patients with dry eye disease (DED) with and without graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). Methods: This study included 54 patients who had moderate to severe DED either associated with (n = 33) or without (n = 21) chronic GVHD. In addition to evaluating clinical parameters of DED, images obtained by laser-scanning IVCM of the central cornea and superior tarsal conjunctiva were analyzed to measure densities of corneal epithelial DCs, corneal subbasal nerves, and conjunctival EICs. Results: Although there were no significant differences between GVHD and non-GVHD groups in symptom scores, the GVHD group had significantly worse corneal fluorescein staining, tear break-up time, and Schirmer's scores than the non-GVHD group. Corneal epithelial DC density, corneal subbasal nerve density, and conjunctival EIC density were 148 ± 135 cells/mm2, 16.3 ± 6.1 mm/mm2, and 670 ± 267 cells/mm2, respectively, in the GVHD group; and 122 ± 99 cells/mm2, 18.3 ± 5.1 mm/mm2, and 572 ± 271 cells/mm2, respectively, in the non-GVHD group. After adjusting for clinical parameters, including the DED severity, none of the IVCM parameters was significantly different between the GVHD versus non-GVHD groups (P = 0.82, P = 0.21, and P = 0.60, respectively). Conclusions: In GVHD-associated DED, cellular changes in the cornea and conjunctiva observed by IVCM were similar to those seen in patients who have non-GVHD dry eye with the same level of disease severity. Therefore, corneal and conjunctival IVCM findings in GVHD-associated DED are possibly reflective of the local disease (DED) severity rather than the underlying systemic disease process

Outcomes of phacoemulsification in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of phacoemulsification in patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Methods The occurrence of cataract, cataract surgery and its outcomes were analyzed in the medical records of 229 patients (458 eyes) with ocular GVHD. Outcome measures included pre- and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and the rate of postoperative complications. Results From 458 eyes evaluated 58 were pseudophakic, from the 400 phakic eyes 238 (59%) presented with cataracts and 62 (26%) underwent cataract surgery. Analysis of postoperative complications and visual outcomes at one month was performed in 51 eyes in which detailed surgical and immediate postoperative records were available. Preoperatively, the mean CDVA was 0.67±0.57 LogMAR (Snellen 20/93) and improved postoperatively to 0.17±0.18 (Snellen 20/29) at one month (P<0.0001), and to 0.13±0.14 (Snellen 20/26) by the final follow-up visit (P<0.0001). Postoperative complications included: corneal epithelial defects (8%), filamentary keratitis (6%), worsening of corneal epitheliopathy (16%), posterior capsular opacification (18%), and cystoid macular edema (4%). A corrected distance visual acuity of 20/30 or better was achieved in 87% of the eyes; suboptimal CDVA improvement was accounted by severe ocular surface disease, pre-existing advanced glaucoma, and prior macular surgery. Conclusions Phacoemulsification in patients with chronic ocular GVHD is a safe and efficacious procedure resulting in significant visual improvement. Overall, postoperative adverse events responded well to timely management

Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Ocular Graft-versus-Host Disease

Objective To assess the vision-related quality of life in a cohort of patients with ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Design Prospective study. Participants Eighty-four patients diagnosed with chronic ocular GVHD Methods We assessed the vision-related quality of life with the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). The symptoms of ocular GVHD were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Symptom Assessment in Dry Eye (SANDE) questionnaires. Main outcome measures We assessed vision-related quality of life with NEI-VFQ-25 and compared the scores obtained from patients with ocular GVHD to those from a healthy population. In the ocular GVHD population, we also evaluated the associations between the NEI-VFQ-25 and dry eye symptoms measured by OSDI and SANDE questionnaires, age, duration of disease, best-corrected visual acuity, corneal fluorescein staining, tear break-up time, and Schirmer test. Results The mean composite NEI-VFQ-25 score in patients with ocular GVHD was 76.5 ± 17. Compared to healthy subjects, ocular GVHD patients reported reduced scores on all NEI-VFQ-25 subscales (each P < 0.001) with exception of color vision (P = 0.11). The NEI-VFQ-25 composite scores significantly correlated with OSDI (R = −0.81, P < 0.001), SANDE (R = −0.56, P < 0.001), corneal fluorescein staining (R = −0.36, P = 0.001) and best-corrected visual acuity (R = −0.30, P = 0.004). Conclusion Patients with ocular GVHD experience measurable impairment of vision-related quality of life. This study highlights the impact of ocular GVHD on the vision-related quality of life, and hence the importance of comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of this condition

Onset of Ocular Graft-Versus-Host Disease Symptoms After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Objective To study the factors affecting the time to onset of ocular GVHD in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods A retrospective chart review of 200 patients with ocular GVHD was performed to evaluate the association between various donor-recipient characteristics on the time to onset of ocular GVHD after allo-HSCT. Results The median time to onset of chronic ocular GVHD after allo-HSCT was 293 days (range 26 to 2308). Patients receiving fully HLA-matched transplants had a delayed onset of ocular GVHD (median 294 days) compared to mismatched transplants (219 days; P=0.029). HLA-matched transplants from related donors had delayed onset of ocular GVHD (307 days) compared to HLA-matched (286 days; P=0.168) and HLA-mismatched (231 days; P=0.015) transplants from unrelated donors. Ocular GVHD followed systemic GVHD in 76% of patients but preceded systemic disease in 7%, occurred concurrently in 15%, and was not associated with systemic GVHD in 2% of patients. The time elapsed between the occurrence of systemic and ocular GVHD was significantly longer in matched-related transplants (250 days) than in matched-unrelated transplants (120 days; P=0.004). Conclusion The onset of ocular GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is variable and is influenced by the donor-recipient matching characteristics. In the majority of patients with GVHD ocular involvement follows the occurrence of systemic manifestations; however, importantly, it can also precede or develop independently of systemic disease in a minority. Regular ophthalmic follow-up is recommended after allo-HSCT regardless the concurrent systemic GVHD status

Bilateral corneal ulceration in ocular graft-versus-host disease

Purpose To report on corneal ulceration in ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Methods This was a retrospective, observational case series investigating corneal ulceration and perforation in a cohort of ocular GVHD patients seen between June 2007 and October 2012. Results Four of 243 ocular GVHD patients developed corneal ulcerations attributable to ocular GVHD, and all four cases involved bilateral corneal ulceration. The median length of time from the diagnosis of ocular GVHD to the diagnosis of the first corneal ulceration was 317 days (range 168–434). The median length of time between the diagnosis of corneal ulceration in each patient’s first and second eye was 248 days (range 9–645). Outcomes varied from complete resolution with medical treatment to corneal perforation necessitating penetrating keratoplasty. In cases of corneal perforation, the median length of time from the diagnosis of corneal ulceration to perforation was 10 days (range 0–20). Common clinical features included: centrally or paracentrally located ulcerations and perforations, concomitant dry eye, and the use of topical or systemic corticosteroids. Conclusion Frequent follow-up and bilateral monitoring are highly recommended in cases of ocular GVHD-associated stromal thinning, as bilateral involvement or rapid progression to corneal perforation can occur

Multidetector Computed Tomography Features in Differentiating Exophytic Renal Angiomyolipoma from Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma: A Strobe-Compliant Observational Study

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging features in differentiating exophytic renal angiomyolipoma (AML) from retroperitoneal liposarcoma. We retrospectively enrolled 42 patients with confirmed exophytic renal AML (31 patients) or retroperitoneal liposarcoma (11 patients) during 8 years period to assess: renal parenchymal defect at site of tumor contact, supply from branches of renal artery, tumoral vessel extending through the renal parenchyma, dilated intratumoral vessels, hemorrhage, non–fat-containing intratumoral nodules with postcontrast enhancement, calcification, renal sinus enlargement, anterior displacement of kidneys, and other associated AML. Renal parenchymal defect, renal arterial blood supply, tumoral vessel through the renal parenchyma, dilated intratumoral vessels, intratumoral/perirenal hemorrhage, renal sinus enlargement, and associated AML were seen only or mainly in exophytic renal AML (all P value < 0.05); however, non–fat-attenuating enhancing intratumoral nodules, intratumoral calcification, and anterior displacement of the kidney were more common in liposarcoma (all P value < 0.05). AMLs reveal renal parenchymal defect at the site of tumor contact, supply from renal artery, tumoral vessel extending through the renal parenchyma, dilated intratumoral vessels, intratumoral and/or perirenal hemorrhage, renal sinus enlargement, and associated AML. Non–fat-attenuating enhancing intratumoral nodules, intratumoral calcifications, and anterior displacement of kidney were more commonly seen in liposarcoma

Reduced Corneal Endothelial Cell Density in Patients With Dry Eye Disease

Purpose To evaluate corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in patients with dry eye disease (DED) compared to an age-matched control group. Design Cross-sectional, controlled study Methods This study included 90 eyes of 45 patients with moderate-to-severe DED (53.7 ± 9.8 years old) and 30 eyes of 15 normal controls (50.7 ± 9.8 years old). All subjects had a complete ophthalmic evaluation including symptom assessment using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and corneal fluorescein staining. In addition, laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy was performed to measure the density of the following parameters in the central cornea: endothelial cells, subbasal nerves, and subbasal immune dendritic cells. Results Corneal ECD was significantly lower in the DED group (2595.8 ± 356.1 cells/mm2) than in the control group (2812.7 ± 395.2 cells/mm2, P=0.046). The DED group showed significantly lower corneal subbasal nerve density (17.1 ± 6.9 mm/mm2) compared to the control group (24.7 ± 4.4 mm/mm2, P<0.001). Dendritic cell density was significantly higher in the DED group than in the controls (111.7 ± 137.3 versus 32.0 ± 24.4 cells/mm2, respectively, P=0.002). There were statistically significant correlations between corneal ECD and dry eye severity parameters including the OSDI score (rs= −0.26, P=0.03), and corneal fluorescein staining (rs= −0.28, P=0.008). Conclusions There is a significant reduction in corneal ECD in DED which correlates with clinical severity of the disease

Use of intravitreal rituximab for treatment of vitreoretinal lymphoma

Aim: Vitreoretinal lymphoma is a diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Targeting malignant cells with rituximab is being used increasingly as local chemotherapy, but information on this treatment is scant. We aimed to describe current therapeutic approaches, as well as responses to and complications of, intravitreal rituximab in patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma. Methods: Clinical data were collected in a standardised manner retrospectively on patients with vitreoretinal lymphoma treated with intravitreal rituximab. Results: 48 eyes (34 patients) with vitreoretinal lymphoma were treated with a median of 3.5 intravitreal injections of rituximab (1 mg/0.1 mL) for new diagnosis (68.8%), progressive disease (29.9%) and maintenance therapy (2.1%). Intravitreal rituximab±methotrexate was the sole treatment in 19 eyes (39.6%). 31 eyes (64.6%) eyes achieved complete remission, after a median of 3 injections; 7 of these eyes developed recurrent disease. 11 eyes (22.9%) achieved partial remission. Although rituximab may have contributed to complications reported in 12 eyes (25.0%), a 2-line loss of Snellen visual acuity occurred in only 2 of those eyes (4.2%). Conclusions: Approaches in rituximab-based intravitreal chemotherapy vary widely, but our findings suggest that this treatment may be safe and effective in inducing remission in a majority of eyes with vitreoretinal lymphoma