Henderson Celestino de Almeida

AUTISM AND MÖBIUS SEQUENCE An exploratory study of children in northeastern Brazil

The psychiatric examination was performed with diagnostic instruments for autism (DSM-IV and Childhood Autism Rating Scale-CARS) in 23 children with Möbius sequence. From the 23 patients studied with Möbius sequence, five (26.1%) met the diagnostic criteria for infantile autism according DSM-IV and two (8.6%), under two years old, showed autistic-like behavior. The scores for six children were compatible to severe autism symptoms according CARS and one child met the criteria for moderate autism symptoms. Among five children with autism, three (60%) had positive history of misoprostol exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy and from two cases autistic-like, one (50%) had positive history of misoprostol exposure during pregnancy. According to our data, this is the first report of Möbius sequence with autism and positive history of misoprostol use during pregnancy.

Seqüência de Möbius: resultados a longo prazo, da correção cirúrgica do estrabismo

PURPOSE To analyze the long-term results in a consecutive series of Möbius sequence patients, who underwent surgical correction of strabismus. METHODS Ten patients with Möbius sequence fulfilled the inclusion criteria of this study. All patients presented esotropia at the preoperative examination, above or equal to 15 prismatic diopters (DP) varying from 15 to 85. All patients presented lateral rectus muscles severe underaction, six presented hipertropia above or equal 10 DP associated with esodeviation, and five presented anisotropia in A or in V. The patients were operated upon protocol, in a consecutive way, in July 2002. Patients were reexamined periodically, and at 2nd postoperative year as for: the visual acuity; deviation measurements; ocular rotations; cosmetic aspect and socialization. RESULTS The patients presented satisfactory surgical results in eight cases, considering an eso or exodeviation up to 15 DP and a hipertropia lower than 10 DP. Four (40%) patients presented correction of the preoperative anisotropia. Variation of ocular deviation in the primary position (from the 90th day to the 2nd postoperative year was observed) in 9 patients (90%), demonstrating that strabismus surgical stabilization needs time. CONCLUSIONS The surgical results were considered satisfactory, improving patient self-esteem and the parent satisfaction, making the social inclusion easier.

Quality of life of patients with strabismus

PURPOSE To evaluate the impact of strabismus on quality of life. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 101 individuals aged 7-67 years with strabismus. They were interviewed and made to answer a questionnaire with 20 questions intended to assess the individuals interaction with their social and working environment, sensory perception, and limitations in their daily lives. There were five types of possible responses for each question: never, rarely or very few times, sometimes, frequently, and always. The questionnaire was based on the AS-20 and contained 11 questions assessing psychosocial aspects and 9 questions assessing functional aspects. Among those who were interviewed, 24.8% had undergone surgical correction of strabismus. RESULTS We observed a significant impact of strabismus on the quality of life of the interviewed individuals. Feelings of sadness and inferiority because of strabismus were reported by 74.2% and 58.4% respondents, respectively. In terms of functionality, 12.1% reported difficulty in reading, 14% said they had difficulty in depth perception (stereopsis), and 17.8% frequently or always associated pain or burning sensation in the eyes to strabismus. A significant difference was detected in the quality of life scores for the psychosocial aspect among patients who had and had not undergone surgery (Wilcoxon test, 158; p<0.001). Individuals who had undergone surgery had a better quality of life from the psychosocial perspective. CONCLUSIONS In this evaluation, we found a significant negative interference of strabismus on quality of life from both the functional and psychosocial perspectives. This demonstrated the importance of treatment for strabismus, regardless of age, because it can interfere with the functional well-being of the individual.

Achados oftalmológicos em 28 crianças portadoras da seqüência de Möebius

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical ophthalmological findings in Moebius sequence patients. Methods: Twenty-eight Moebius sequence patients were studied at three ophthalmological centers in Pernambuco state, Brazil. RESULTS: Bilateral epicanthus was found in 25 patients (89.3%), ptosis in 14 (50.0%), corneal opacities from exposure in 5 (17.8%) and diminished Bells reflex in 3 (10.7%). Monocular visual acuity varied from 0.03 to 1. Visual acuity deficiency was detected in 13 patients (46.4%). The most frequent refractive error was astigmatism. It was observed in 33 eyes (58.9%). At the primary position, 16 patients (57.2%) had esotropia, 2 (7.1%) had exotropia and 7 (25.0%) had orthotropia. Fundoscopic examination was normal in 26 patients (92.8%). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that Moebius sequence patients presented important ophthalmological disorders, like visual acuity deficiency, incomitant strabismus, exposure keratitis and refractive errors. It is suggested that these patients should be evaluated early by an ophthalmologist for the diagnosis and treatment of these problems.

Split lengthening of the inferior oblique muscles

Split lengthening of the inferior oblique muscle(s) was performed in 20 patients for the correction of V-pattern, employing bilateral or unilateral surgery. In four patients unilateral split lengthening of the inferior oblique was done for the correction of hypertropia. The average correction of V-pattern was 16.9 pd with bilateral surgery and 13.3 pd with unilateral surgery. The average correction of hypertropia was 11.8 pd with only unilateral surgery.

Comparação entre cirurgia e aplicações unilaterais e bilaterais de toxina botulínica para o tratamento dos estrabismos

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of three types of treatment for strabismus: surgery, unilateral and bilateral botulinum toxin injections. Methods: To compose groups I and II, a prospective study was carried out observing the pretreatment measurement of the deviation, repeated after 7, 30 and 90 days after the injection. To compose group III, a retrospective study was carried out. Results: The percentage of horizontal deviation correction for distance, in 3 months, was: group I = 50.9%; group II = 55.8%, and group III = 77.0%; for near, 48.6%, 49.2% and 72.8% respectively.The therapeutic success rate, defined as residual deviation of 10 PD (prism diopter) or less, was: group I = 57.1%; group II = 68.4% and group III = 72.4%.Conclusions: There were no statisticaly significant differences between the percentage of deviation correction and success rate between the three types of treatment studied.

Adjustable versus non-adjustable suture techniques for concomitant horizontal strabismus: a comparative study

PURPOSE To compare the surgical results of adjustable and non-adjustable horizontal strabismus surgery for concomitant horizontal strabismus. METHODS The charts of 231 patients, who underwent horizontal strabismus surgery, selected using probabilistic sampling, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical technique used and strabismus type. The adjustable suture technique was used for 107 patients (Group 1), and non-adjustable or conventional surgery was performed in the remaining 124 patients (Group 2). Patients with esotropia (ET) or exotropia (XT) of <55 prism diopters (PD) at distance were included. The following exclusion criteria were applied: all intermittent or vertical deviations, anisotropias >5 PD, syndromes, restrictive or paretic strabismus, reoperations, botulinum toxin injection, and patients postoperatively followed up for <3 months. Surgical success was set to a range between orthotropia and an esodeviation of up to 10 PD for both ET and XT. RESULTS An amblyopia rate >50% was present in all subgroups. Significant differences between strabismus groups submitted to adjustable technique and non-adjustable on postoperative day 1 were observed (p=0.00 for ET and p=0.01 for XT) and at the last visit for the XT group with a follow-up of at least 1 year (p=0.05). CONCLUSION The adjustable suture technique produced a higher success rate than non-adjustable strabismus surgery for both ET and XT groups on postoperative day 1. For XT patients, the adjustable suture technique appears to produce better surgical results than non-adjustable surgery, when the surgical goal is long-lasting maintenance of a small hypercorrection.

Study of crotoxin on the induction of paralysis in extraocular muscle in animal model

PURPOSE Crotoxin is the major toxin of the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, capable of causing a blockade of the neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction. The objective of this study was to appraise the action and effectiveness of the crotoxin induced paralysis of the extraocular muscle and to compare its effects with the botulinum toxin type A (BT-A). METHODS The crotoxin, with LD50 of 1.5 µg, was injected into the superior rectus muscle in ten New Zealand rabbits. The concentration variance was 0.015 up to 150 µg. Two rabbits received 2 units of botulinum toxin type A for comparative analysis. The evaluation of the paralysis was performed using serial electromyography. After the functional recovery of the muscles, which occurred after two months, six rabbits were sacrificed for anatomopathology study. RESULTS The animals did not show any evidence of systemic toxicity. Transitory ptosis was observed in almost every animal and remained up to fourteen days. These toxins caused immediate blockade of the electrical potentials. The recovery was gradual in the average of one month with regeneration signs evident on the electromyography. The paralysis effect of the crotoxin on the muscle was proportional to its concentration. The changes with 1.5 µg crotoxin were similar to those produced by the botulinum toxin type A. The histopathology findings were localized to the site of the injection. No signs of muscle fibers necrosis were seen in any sample. The alterations induced by crotoxin were also proportional to the concentration and similar to botulinum toxin type A in concentration of 1.5 µg. CONCLUSION Crotoxin was able to induce transitory paralysis of the superior rectus muscle. This effect was characterized by reduction of action potentials and non-specific signs of fibrillation. Crotoxin, in concentration of 1.5 µg was able to induce similar effects as botulinum toxin type A.

Síndrome de Möbius: achados clínicos e cirúrgicos em 7 pacientes

Purpose: To evaluate clinical features, pregnancy and labour abnormalities and the results of strabismus surgery in patients with Mobius syndrome. Methods: The authors studied retrospectively 7 patients with Mobius syndrome, of whom 6 were submitted to strabismus surgery. Results: In addition to the classical findings that characterize the syndrome, pregnancy and labour insults were observed in all cases. In 2 patients a posterior medial rectus insertion was found during surgery. Due to cross-fixation, these patients usually do not develop amblyopia. Conclusions: Surgery should consist of muscle recessions, but recessing them less than it would be done for similar isolated abducens palsy.

Diplopia vertical persistente pós-facectomia e tireoidopatia associadas

The authors report a case of a 69 year-old woman who developed persistent vertical deviation and diplopia after extracapsular cataract surgery and had a positive past history of thyroid disease. The authors emphasize the need of for detailed orbit propedeutics in order to rule out restrictive strabismus associated with post-facectomy diplopia.