Single-dose Intravitreal Bevacizumab after Complete Panretinal Photocoagulation in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: an Effective Adjunctive Treatment

Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) who are refractory to complete panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) have a high risk of severe vision loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of single-dose intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) after complete PRP in patients with refractory PDR. Patients with retinal neovascularization (NV) secondary to diabetes mellitus and refractory to complete PRP were enrolled in this study. All patients received a single dose of 1.25 mg IVB at 3 months after completing the PRP. Patients underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation and fluorescein angiography (FA) at baseline and 1 month after injection. The main outcome measure was a reduction in the areas of leakage (mm2) on FA. All patients were evaluated at baseline and on every visit at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the injection. A total of 21 consecutive patients (32 eyes) with PDR completed this study. Thirteen (61.9%) patients were female. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 64.1 ± 5.6 years. Complete and partial response of angiographic leakage of NV was noted in 7 (21.9%) and 18 (56.2%) of 32 eyes after a single IVB injection, respectively. No satisfactory response of retinal NV was observed in 7 eyes (21.9%) at 1 month after the injection. There was a significant difference in age between response groups (partial and complete; 61.9 ± 4.4 years) versus the no-satisfactory response group (67.7 ± 5.9 years) (P = 0.007). No significant ocular or systemic adverse events were observed. A single-dose of IVB could be associated with a satisfactory response of retinal NV, secondary to PDR, in patients who are refractory to complete PRP.Â

Sensitivity, Specificity and Accuracy of Color Doppler Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment

Purpose: This study evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of Color Doppler Ultrasonography (CDUS) in patients with suspected retinal detachment (RD) who underwent surgery. Methods: In this prospective, observational clinical study, 65 eyes of 65 consecutive patients with suspected RD with opaque media were included. Following a standardized protocol, CDUS of the retina of the affected eye was performed. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of CDUS were determined and compared to the findings during surgery. Results: The mean age of patients (18 men and 47 women) was 52.36 years (range: 8–77 years). The sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of ocular CDUS were 91.3%, 88.1%, and 89.2%, respectively. The false-negative rate (negative CDUS images but presence of RD at operation) was 3.1% (2/65) and the false-positive rate (positive CDUS images but absence of RD at operation) was 7.7% (5/65). Conclusion: CDUS of the retina could be considered as a promising tool in the diagnosis of RD in patients with opaque media

Thinking outside the skin: Look at the thyroid for true diagnosis

Keratoderma is a group of disorders characterized by abnormal thickening of skin. Acquired palmar keratoderma has many underlying causes. The association of thyroid disease and palmar keratoderma rarely reported. Hypothyroidism, although very rare association, must be suspected in patients with acquired PPK, particularly when it occurs in setting of systemic symptoms or predisposing conditions.We report first case of acquired plantar keratoderma associated with undiagnosed hypothyroidism in Down syndrome

Retinal Toxicity in Patients Treated With Hydroxychloroquine: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial medication that can also be used to treat autoimmune diseases. However, it can produce irreversible changes to the retina that lead to visual impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of patients treated with HCQ who develop retinal toxicity and the risk factors for the development of HCQ-induced retinal toxicity among Iranian patients. The is a cross-sectional clinical study of 59 patients who were treated with HCQ during 2014–2015. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the following demographic and clinical factors: age, gender, type of rheumatic disease, history of cataract surgery, daily and cumulative HCQ dose, and duration of HCQ use. Retinal toxicity was diagnosed on the basis of the automated perimetry results of the central 10° of vision and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The associations between the demographic and clinical factors and retinal toxicity were assessed, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Retinal toxicity was detected in 18 (30.5%) of the patients, and 5 (8.5 %) developed color vision impairments. There was no association between retinal toxicity and sex (P = 0.514), history of cataract surgery (P = 0.479), type of rheumatic disease (P = 0.539), or daily HCQ dose (P = 0.062). However, there was a significant positive association between retinal toxicity and age (P = 0.006), cumulative HCQ dose (P = 0.002), and duration of HCQ use (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the risk factors for retinal toxicity after HCQ treatment were advanced age, use of a higher cumulative HCQ dose, and a longer duration of treatment.Â

Hypocalcemic seizure and related factors after neonatal period; A single-center, retrospective study

      Seizures are the most common disorder of the central nervous system in childhood and constitute a significant number of admissions to the pediatric emergency departments. The aim of this study is evaluate the etiology of hypocalcemic seizures in pediatrics. A single-center, hospital based descriptive study was done in the academic referral center for hypocalcemic seizure of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data was evaluated based on the medical records of each patient. Case files of these children’s were analyzed for age at presentation, sex, weight, clinical features, biochemical parameters (serum calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase) ,type of seizure, history of previous seizure and history of drug intake.  A total 38 children with hypocalcemic seizure, consisting of 19 boys and 19 girls, with ages ranging from one month to 14 years, were enrolled in this study. The most common patterns of seizures were generalized seizures (83.8%). the mean levels of serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly greater in patients under the age of 2 years (1234 ± 541.03) rather above than 7 years of age (922.75 ± 147.45) (p = .021). Rickets was the commonest cause of seizures rickets were diagnosis in  80.8% subjects  under 2 years of age, whereas none of those over 7 years old had not rickets , these  results were statistically significant (p = .015). Current observational study indicates that rickets could be a major cause of hypocalcemic convulsion in infants and children. Screening children presenting with hypocalcemic convulsions for rickets and/or other cause of hypocalcemia can help in early diagnosis and institution of specific therapy.

A Promising Modified Procedure for Upper Eyelid Retraction-Associated Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: Transconjunctival Lateral Levator Aponeurectomy

Upper eyelid retraction is a characteristic feature of thyroid eye disease, including Graves’ orbitopathy. In this study, a new surgical technique for correction of lid retraction secondary to Graves’ orbitopathy is described. Sixteen eyelids of patients older than 18 years old underwent surgical correction for moderate to severe lid retraction secondary to Graves’ orbitopathy. In this procedure, levator aponeurectomy was performed via a transconjunctival approach. Upper marginal reflex distance (MRD1) was measured before the surgery and at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the surgery. MRD1 was reduced significantly from preoperatively (mean: 7.84 mm) to 1 week after the surgery (mean: 3.59 mm) (P < 0.001). Three and six months after surgery, mean MRD1 was 5.09 mm and 5.10 mm, respectively, showing that lid retraction was improved significantly (P < 0.001). Lateral levator aponeurectomy via the transconjunctival approach is a simple, scar-less, quick procedure that has optimal stable outcome.Â

A Promising Modified Procedure for Upper Eyelid Retraction-Associated Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: Transconjunctival Lateral Levator Aponeurectomy

Upper eyelid retraction is a characteristic feature of thyroid eye disease, including Graves’ orbitopathy. In this study, a new surgical technique for correction of lid retraction secondary to Graves’ orbitopathy is described. Sixteen eyelids of patients older than 18 years old underwent surgical correction for moderate to severe lid retraction secondary to Graves’ orbitopathy. In this procedure, levator aponeurectomy was performed via a transconjunctival approach. Upper marginal reflex distance (MRD1) was measured before the surgery and at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the surgery. MRD1 was reduced significantly from preoperatively (mean: 7.84 mm) to 1 week after the surgery (mean: 3.59 mm) (P < 0.001). Three and six months after surgery, mean MRD1 was 5.09 mm and 5.10 mm, respectively, showing that lid retraction was improved significantly (P < 0.001). Lateral levator aponeurectomy via the transconjunctival approach is a simple, scar-less, quick procedure that has optimal stable outcome.

Promising Option for Treatment of Striae Alba: Fractionated Microneedle Radiofrequency in Combination with Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser

Background. A consistent treatment has not been proposed for treatment of Striae Alba (SA). The present study was designed to compare the fractionated microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) alone and in combination with fractional carbon dioxide laser (FMR + CO2) in the treatment of SA. Methods. Forty-eight pairs of SA from six patients were selected. Right or left SAs were randomly assigned to one of the treatment groups. The surface area of the SA before and after treatment and clinical improvement using a four-point scale were measured at the baseline, after one and three months. Results. The mean age of the patients was 30.17±5.19 years. The mean difference of the surface area between pre- and posttreatment in the FMR + CO2 group was significantly higher than that in the FMR group (p=0.003). Clinical improvement scales showed significantly higher improvement in the FMR + CO2 group than in the FMR group in the first and second follow-up (p=0.002 and 0.004, resp.). There were no major persistence side-effects in both groups. Conclusions. The results showed that FMR + CO2 laser was more effective than FMR alone in the treatment of SA

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: an analysis of 2315 eyes over a six-year period

Background: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a form of retinal detachment caused by passage of fluid from the vitreous cavity into the space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium via a retinal break or full-thickness defect. At our tertiary referral center, we evaluated the clinical and epidemiological features of RRD, and we herein report the frequency of related risk factors. Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the records of patients with a final diagnosis of RRD at an academic ophthalmological referral center in Isfahan, Iran, over a six-year period. We retrieved and reviewed data from the medical records of all eligible participants, including sex, age, laterality, lens status, macular status, type of RRD, location and number of breaks, type of surgery, rate of re-operation during the first year after initial surgery, and documented clinical risk factors for RRD. Clinical risk factors were categorized as the presence of myopic refractive error, ocular trauma, history of cataract surgery, history of other ocular surgeries, history of uveitis, or undetermined. Results: We included 2315 eyes of 2229 patients with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 51.1 (16.9) years and a male-to-female ratio of 1.8:1. The most common quadrants containing retinal breaks were the superotemporal quadrant (34.1%), inferotemporal quadrant (23.4%), and superonasal quadrant (10.7%). Macula-involved RRD was seen in 90% of eyes (n=2083 eyes). The most frequently identified risk factors were cataract surgery (32.9%) and myopia (22.3%) in adults, and myopia (35.0%) and ocular trauma (27.4%) in the pediatric group. Most eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy (51.3%), whereas pneumatic retinopexy (0.7%) was the least commonly selected. Conclusions: Our results indicate that cataract surgery and myopia are the most common risk factors for RRD in adults. Myopia and ocular trauma are the most common risk factors in pediatric patients. As observed in many studies, the characteristics of the study population, including middle age, male sex, myopia, and ocular trauma, may be associated with RRD at different rates. Further population-based longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are required to verify these preliminary observations