Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of the use of an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant for the treatment of active cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients. Thirty-nine eyes of 26 patients were submitted to ocular surgery. All patients underwent complete ocular examination before and after surgery. The surgical procedure was always done under local anesthesia using the same technique. The mean time for the surgical procedure was 20 min (range, 15 to 30 min). The average follow-up period was 3.7 months. Of all patient, only 4 presented recurrence of retinitis after 8, 8, 9 and 2 months, respectively. Three of them received a successful second implant. All 39 eyes of the 26 patients presented healing of retinitis as shown by clinical improvement evaluated by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy and retinography. Retinitis healed within a period of 4 to 6 weeks in all patients, with clinical regression signs from the third week on. Six (15.4%) eyes developed retinal detachment. None of the patients developed CMV retinitis in the contralateral eye. The intraocular implant proved to be effective in controlling the progression of retinitis for a period of up to 8 months even in patients for whom systemic therapy with either ganciclovir or foscarnet or both had failed. The intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant proved to be a safe new procedure for the treatment of CMV retinitis, avoiding the systemic side effects caused by the intravenous medications and improving the quality of life of the patients.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

La filosofia di Biancaneve. Spunti per i tempi che cambiano

Nicola Vitale walks a side path to the smooth march of technocratic rationalism. A rationalism dried up in the imagination, in the capacity for vision, in the sense of community belonging that makes us human beings, as Aristotle taught. Snow White, from a Disney fairy tale, returns to its symbolic powerful significance of alchemical narration where everything, even the most divisive evil, finds meaning and place

Il grigio, la timidezza del bianco

From the Latin celor, colour conceals. The one that conceals least is perhaps grey. Rather, grey lends itself to bringing out others, even the lightest, even white. Compared to the proud purity of white, grey seems to reduce itself to mere support and lend itself to making it stand out more. Some artists, however, from the Renaissance to contemporary times suggest to us that the shyness of grey is the only one capable of enhancing the underlying design of the painting and, therefore, its truth

Ocular involvement in AIDS patients with central nervous system toxoplasmosis: before and after HAART

PURPOSE: To describe the ophthalmologic involvement in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - AIDS and central nervous system toxoplasmosis comparing the period before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: In a retrospective study, we compared 118 Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome patients with central nervous system toxoplasmosis who were examined at our institution before highly active antiretroviral therapy (from 1994 - 1996) with 24 patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and central nervous system toxoplasmosis who were being treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (from 1996 -1999). All patients were submitted to a complete ophthalmological examination as well as specific tests to confirm the diagnosis and there was no intersection between the groups. RESULTS: In the pre- highly active antiretroviral therapy group, it was found that 23% of the patients with central nervous system toxoplasmosis had also ocular toxoplasmosis. Ocular involvement was bilateral in 37.2% of the cases. In the group of patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, who had an average CD4 of 256 cells/mm³ and average of viral load of 52,620 copies, 16.6% had concomitant ocular and central nervous system toxoplasmosis. Ocular involvement was bilateral in 50% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome patients with central nervous system toxoplasmosis have a frequent association with ocular toxoplasmosis. Although the incidence of opportunistic infections has decreased since the introduction of recent antiretroviral therapeutic strategies ocular toxoplasmosis continues to be frequent in patients with cen.ral nervous system toxoplasmosis.OBJETIVO: Descrever o comprometimento ocular em pacientes com AIDS e toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central, comparando os períodos pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral (HAART). MÉTODOS: Em estudo retrospectivo, comparamos 118 pacientes com AIDS e toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central que foram examinados em nossa instituição antes do pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral (1994-1996) com 24 pacientes com AIDS e toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central que foram tratados com pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral (1996-1999). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico completo e a testes específicos para confirmar o diagnóstico e não houve interseção entre os grupos. RESULTADOS: No grupo pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral, foi encontrado 23% de toxoplasmose ocular entre os pacientes com toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central. O envolvimento ocular foi bilateral em 37% dos casos. No grupo dos pacientes que receberam pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral, que tinham CD4 médio de 256 cel/mm³ e carga viral média de 52.620 cópias, 16,6% apresentaram concomitantemente toxoplasmose ocular e toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central. O envolvimento ocular foi bilateral em 50% dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com AIDS e toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central apresentam freqüente associação com toxoplasmose ocular. Embora a incidência de infecções oportunistas tenha diminuído desde a introdução de pré e pós-terapia anti-retroviral, a toxoplasmose ocular continua sendo freqüente em pacientes com toxoplasmose do sistema nervoso central.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL

Corticosteroid therapy and uveitis

Corticosteroids have been used in clinical practice since 1949, and their potential beneficial effects in Ophthalmology, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, are now a fact. Nowadays, these steroids are used, systemically or locally, to treat a constellation of eye diseases. This article considers the most used corticosteroids in Ophthalmology, their indications, their side effects, and routes of administration.Os corticosteróides têm sido utilizados na prática clínica desde 1949, e seus efeitos benéficos na oftalmologia, principalmente nas doenças inflamatórias e autoimunes, é indiscutível. O artigo discute os tipos mais comuns de corticóides usados na oftalmologia, suas indicações, efeitos adversos e vias de administração.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Setor de Uveítes e AIDSUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) setor de EndocrinologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Oftalmologia setor de ÓrbitaSociedade Brasileira de UveítesUNIFESP, Setor de Uveítes e AIDSUNIFESP, setor de EndocrinologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Oftalmologia setor de ÓrbitaSciEL