1/44. Superselective intraarterial fibrinolysis in central retinal artery occlusion.Intraarterial fibrinolysis was performed in three patients with acute central retinal artery occlusion using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator as a fibrinolytic agent. In two cases the ophthalmic artery was selectively catheterized, and in the other a thrombolytic drug was infused into the ophthalmic artery by way of the meningeal collaterals. All patients experienced visual improvement. fibrinolysis can produce better results than obtained from conservative treatment. A good prognosis can be achieved if the treatment starts within the first 4 to 5 hours after occlusion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/44. Acute unilateral visual loss due to a single intranasal methamphetamine abuse.An otherwise healthy 35 year old male with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) presented himself three days after a single intranasal methamphetamine abusus. Directly upon awakening the day after the recreational use of this drug, he discovered an acute and severe visual loss of his right eye. This unilateral loss of vision was permanent and eventually lead to a pale and atrophic optic nerve head. The characteristics of this visual loss, together with the aspect of the optic nerve head was very similar to the classical non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). We suggest a direct ischemic episode to the short posterior ciliary arteries due to this single intranasal abuse of methamphetamine as the underlying pathogenesis of this acute and permanent visual loss.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/44. diagnosis and treatment of a severe psychotic illness in a man with dual severe sensory impairments caused by the presence of Usher syndrome.The present paper reports the case history of a 50-year-old man born with Usher syndrome, who developed a psychotic illness later in life, to illustrate the specific diagnostic problems, and the value of direct observation and a detailed assessment of communication. The subject had had a significant hearing impairment since birth, problems with balance and developed retinitis pigmentosa, leaving him with progressively limited vision in adult life. A pattern of bizarre and aggressive behaviour, and a disintegration in his ability to communicate using signs developed over 3 months. An initial diagnosis of depression was made, but it later became clearer that the subject had developed a psychotic illness. This condition responded well to a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medication. The possible association between Usher syndrome and psychotic illness is also discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.7128099173554keywords = medication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/44. optic atrophy following prophylactic chemotherapy and cranial radiation for acute lymphocytic leukemia.Two patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia developed progressive optic nerve and chiasmal lesions eight to nine months after the initiation of identical chemotherapy protocols that included intrathecal medication and prophylactic radiation of only 2,400 rads to the central nervous system. Both patients eventually lost all vision despite additional radiotherapy, and there was no evidence of leukemia involving the central nervous system after acute lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed. optic nerve biopsy in one case showed changes consistent with radiation necrosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.7128099173554keywords = medication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/44. Sudden blindness secondary to injections of common drugs in the head and neck: I. Clinical experiences.Several cases of sudden, irreversible blindness have been reported in the world literature following injections of various drug combinations in the head and neck. The common feature these drugs have is their capacity to either produce direct neurotoxic effects or embolic phenomena. Two new cases which resulted from injection of the combination of a depo or long-acting corticosteroid (methylprednisolone acetate, 40 mg) and a local anesthetic and epinephrine or penicillin were added to the growing world literature. The ocular and systemic pathologic findings are described and important questions are raised as to the pathophysiology. The need for an animal model experiment to answer as many of these questions as possible is emphasized.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/44. Optic neuropathy and chiasmopathy in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.PURPOSE: To report the clinical presentation of acute visual loss in six patients who were ultimately diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). methods: Retrospective case series. RESULTS: All patients had a positive antinuclear antibody and elevated anti-double stranded dna titers. Five of six patients demonstrated gadolinium enhancement of the optic nerve and/or chiasm on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Most patients showed initial improvement after treatment with high-dose systemic corticosteroids, but five experienced recrudescences during steroid taper, requiring further treatment with immunosuppressive or cytotoxic medications. CONCLUSIONS: Visual loss owing to optic neuropathy or chiasmopathy may be the presenting sign of SLE or the event that leads to this diagnosis. gadolinium-enhanced MRI is useful for identifying anterior visual pathway lesions in these patients. Corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of this condition; however, relapses requiring further treatment are common.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.7128099173554keywords = medication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/44. Post-traumatic scedosporium inflatum endophthalmitis.This is the first documented case of post-traumatic scedosporium inflatum endophthalmitis and only the second of S. inflatum endophthalmitis occurring in a non-immunocompromised individual, to the authors' knowledge. A case is reported of a 57-year-old woman who, while chopping wood, had a wood chip hit her in the right eye. This caused a penetrating corneal injury with uveal prolapse and damage to the crystalline lens. There were also vitreous and suprachoroidal haemorrhages. No detectable intraocular foreign material was retained. The clinical manifestation of infection was delayed, but once established, it was very destructive. The initially indolent endophthalmitis eventually led to loss of all light perception and panophthalmitis which required enucleation. The responsible strain of S. inflatum was found to be resistant to all antifungal medication in vitro.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.7128099173554keywords = medication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/44. Progressive outer retinal necrosis in immunocompetent patients treated initially for optic neuropathy with systemic corticosteroids.PURPOSE: To report two cases of progressive outer retinal necrosis occurring in immunocompetent individuals after treatment with corticosteroids for presumed optic neuropathy. DESIGN: Observational case report. SETTING: University-based tertiary eye hospital. methods: Retrospective review of existing clinical records. RESULTS: Two patients were treated empirically with systemic corticosteroids for suspected inflammatory papillopathy. Subsequently, both were diagnosed with necrotizing herpetic retinitis with features of progressive outer retinal necrosis. anterior chamber paracentesis confirmed varicella-zoster infection. Both patients were human immunodeficiency virus negative; one patient with rheumatoid arthritis was taking etanercept. Both became completely blind in one eye despite intensive treatment with antiviral medication intravenously and intravitreally. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive outer retinal necrosis is not confined to patients with underlying severe immunodeficiency, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Initial treatment of acute, unexplained vision loss with systemic corticosteroids may lead to catastrophic visual loss in patients with evolving necrotizing herpetic retinopathy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6.7128099173554keywords = medication (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/44. quinine blindness.A young women was treated with intravenous quinine and chloramphenicol for suspected severe malaria and/or typhoid fever. On the second day of quinine therapy (after 2.25 g of quinine) she suddenly developed total bilateral loss of vision. Both drugs were stopped and cyclandelate therapy was started. She showed slight improvement in vision but on referral her visual acuity was limited to seeing waving hand movement only; visual fields were constricted and colour vision was absent. Both pupils were fixed and dilated. The fundi showed macular oedema and attenuated retinal arteries. She was treated with dexamethasone, cyclandelate, vitamin b complex and vitamin C. Colour vision was completely recovered after 5 days of treatment. Full recovery of the direct light reflex occurred after 10 days. visual acuity improved slowly over a period of one month to 6/15 vision in both eyes. At this time macular oedema and retinal arteriolar attenuation were still present but less severe. In the context of this case report the condition of quinine blindness is briefly reviewed and the management discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/44. Sudden blindness caused by anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in 5 children on continuous peritoneal dialysis.The authors report the occurrence of sudden blindness in 5 children (mean age, 32 months; range, 11 to 60) during continuous peritoneal dialysis regimen. All children presented with loss of light perception, visual fixation and ocular pursuit, and bilateral mydriasis unreactive to bright light. Fundoscopic examination found signs of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy with disc swelling, edema, and hemorrhages. Whereas 1 patient was dehydrated, the 4 other patients appeared well and not dehydrated. Nevertheless, blood pressure was below the normal range in all of them. Therefore, hypovolemia is highly suspected to have been the cause of ischemic optic neuropathy in all cases. Treatment consisted of steroids (4 patients), anticoagulation or antiagregation drugs (3 patients), plasma or macromolecules infusions (2 patients), vasodilatators (2 patients), and transient dialysis interruption (1 patient). One child with hepatic cirrhosis died 4 days later of acute liver insufficiency owing to ischemic hepatic necrosis. The other children had only partial improvement of vision during the following months. Because the prognosis of ischemic optic neuropathy is very poor, diagnosis and treatment of chronic hypovolemia in children on continuous peritoneal dialysis is essential to prevent such a devastating complication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = drug (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |