Jeison de Nadai Barros

Amniotic membrane transplantation for partial and total limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to chemical burn.

PURPOSE To evaluate the surgical outcome of preserved amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) for ocular surface reconstruction in chemical burn with limbal stem cell deficiency. DESIGN Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS Twenty eyes of 20 consecutive patients with limbal stem cell deficiency secondary to ocular chemical injury. INTERVENTION AMT with or without adjunctive limbal transplantation using limbal tissue from either the healthy contralateral eye (CLAU) or a living related donor (lr-CLAL). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reconstruction of corneal epithelium (clear appearance without epithelial defect, normal fluorescein permeability and the absence of conjunctiva-derived goblet cells on impression cytology), decrease in corneal vascularization and improvement in visual acuity. RESULTS With a mean follow-up time of 19 months (range, 8-27 months), satisfactory ocular surface reconstruction was obtained in 15 eyes (75%), with reduced inflammation and vascularization of the ocular surface and a mean epithelialization time of 3.3 weeks. Success was observed in all cases of partial limbal stem cell deficiency (PLD) and in 68.75% (11 eyes) of cases of total limbal stem cell deficiency (TLD). Surgical failure was observed in five severe cases (31.25%). A significant visual improvement was observed in all cases after surgery, except for 2 eyes that maintained preoperative visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS AMT seems to be an efficient adjunct for ocular surface reconstruction in chemical burns with PLD. When performed in conjunction with limbal stem cell transplantation, it is also effective in most cases of TLD.

Long-term results of topical mitomycin C 0.02% for primary and recurrent conjunctival-corneal intraepithelial neoplasia.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, recurrence rate, and long-term complications of topical mitomycin C (MMC) 0.02% for conjunctival-corneal intraepithelial neoplasia (CCIN). Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, noncontrolled study was conducted of patients with primary or recurrent CCIN treated with topical MMC 0.02%, four times per day, for 28 consecutive days. The main outcome measures were complete resolution of the neoplasia by slit-lamp examination and cytology 1 month after treatment, tumor recurrence, and long-term complications. Results: Between June 1999 and September 2005, 23 patients were included. Eighteen had primary CCIN (group 1) and 5 had recurrent CCIN (group 2). The mean follow-up was 46 months in group 1 and 54 months in group 2. All patients were treated with MMC 0.02% for 28 consecutive days. Complete resolution of the lesion was achieved in all patients after 1 month of treatment. Recurrence occurred in 1 patient (4.3%) after 24 months of treatment. Four patients developed corneal erosion (17.4%), 2 of them with primary CCIN and 2 with recurrent CCIN. Corneal erosion occurred 4 to 24 months after treatment and was treated successfully. The probability for corneal erosions by the log-rank test was equal for both groups (p = 0.1705). Conclusions: The use of topical MMC 0.02% for 28 consecutive days to treat primary or recurrent CCIN was effective and showed a low recurrence rate. Corneal erosion occurred in 17.4% of cases and can occur as late as 24 months after treatment.

Uso oral do óleo de linhaça (Linum usitatissimum) no tratamento do olhoseco de pacientesportadores da síndrome de Sjögren

PURPOSE To evaluate if oral flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum), which reduces the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis, may help keratoconjunctivitis siccas treatment in Sjögrens syndrome patients. METHODS In a randomized clinical trial, 38 female patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erithematosus associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca and Sjögrens syndrome were consecutively selected from patients of the Department of Rheumatology of the Amazonas University Hospital. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca diagnosis was based on a dry-eye symptom survey score (Ocular Surface Disease Index - OSDI), Schirmer-I test, fluorescein break-up time, 1% Rose Bengal staining of ocular surface measured by the van Bijsterveld scale. All patients had ocular surface inflammation evaluated and quantified by conjunctival impression cytology, before and after the study. The subjects were divided into three groups with 13 (Group I), 12 (Group II) and 13 (Group III) patients. Group I received flaxseed oil capsules with a final 1 g/day dosis, Group II flaxseed oil capsules with a final 2 g/day dosis and Group III - controls - placebo, for 180 days. RESULTS Comparing the results at the beginning and at the end of the treatment, statistically significant changes (p<0.05) in symptoms (OSDI), ocular surface inflammation quantified by conjunctival impression cytology, Schirmer-I test and fluorescein break-up time occurred in Groups I e II when compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Therapy with oral flaxseed oil capsules 1 or 2 g/day reduces ocular surface inflammation and ameliorates the symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in Sjögrens syndrome patients. Long-term studies are needed to confirm the role of this therapy for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in Sjögrens syndrome.

Citologia de impressão da superfície ocular: técnica de exame e de coloração

Purpose: To present an examination technique and to standardize the staining procedure of samples of impression cytology of the ocular surface in a reference service. Methods: 28 samples of impression cytology were obtained from patients with ocular surfaces alterations of the External Eye Diseases Sector in the period of July to November 1999. They were stained and microscopically evaluated in the Ocular Microbiology Laboratory of the Federal University of Sao Paulo. Results: We developed a design of a filter paper with apex, base and lateral opening that promoted its adequate position both in the eye at collection and on the glass microscope slides for fixing and staining procedures. The staining technique that uses periodic acid-Schiff, hematoxilin and Papanicolaou is an easy and economic procedure which stains goblet and epithelial cells. Conclusions: The modified method for staining showed to be ideal for the cytologic evaluation of samples of the impression cytology examination. Impression cytology is a very reliable method to study ocular surface, and has proved to be really simple, a cheaper and more confortable procedure for the patient than invasive biopsies.

Predictive index to differentiate invasive squamous cell carcinoma from preinvasive ocular surface lesions by impression cytology

Background/aims: In the literature, no cytological features have been identified that reliably differentiate invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from preinvasive lesions in impression cytology (IC) samples. The aim was to identify cytological features related to malignancy and apply them in a quantitative model to determine an index score with the best predictive power to differentiate SCC from preinvasive ocular surface lesions by IC. Methods: 39 patients with ocular surface epithelial lesions were enrolled. IC was obtained from all lesions before surgical excision. Specimens with atypical cells were evaluated regarding 11 cytological parameters based on the 2001 Bethesda system. Results: Histopathological diagnosis was pterygium in one case, actinic keratosis in nine cases, intraepithelial neoplasia in nine cases and SCC in 20 cases. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that a predictive index score (cut-off point) ⩾4.25 presented the best relationship between sensitivity and specificity in identifying SCC (sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 95% and negative predictive value of 93%). Conclusion: The scoring system model presented is suitable for clinical practice in differentiating SCC from preinvasive ocular surface lesions by IC and can be better evaluated with prospective use.

Clinic-cytologic study of conjunctivochalasis and its relation to thyroid autoimmune diseases : Prospective cohort study

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of conjunctivochalasis in patients with immune thyroid diseases, to determine whether there is any association between the 2 diseases, and to determine cytologic study of conjunctivochalasis through the cytology impression test. Methods: A clinical prospective cohort study carried out by the External Diseases Department in the Ophthalmology Sector and the Thyroid Department in the Endocrinology Sector at Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP). The patients included were divided into 2 groups following these inclusion criteria: a control group of 25 patients without thyroid diseases, confirmed after clinical and laboratory examinations (thyroid hormones), or any other ocular diseases. The study group consisted of 31 patients with thyroid diseases, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by the Endocrinology Sector. The thyroidopathies included were autoimmune diseases but excluded nonautoimmune diseases. A protocol endorsed by the UNIFESP was followed, using clinical and ophthalmological history, biomicroscopy, and impression cytology. Results: Fifty-two percent of patients without thyroid diseases and 88% of patients with thyroid diseases presented with conjunctivochalasis. The risk ratio was 1.705 (Pr > χ2 = 0.0038), indicating that there is an association between them. For the impression cytology in inferior bulbar conjunctiva, there was an association between the result of the impression cytology and conjunctivochalasis (Pearson χ2 = 10.1190 Pr = 0.006). Conclusion: The prevalence of conjunctivochalasis in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases was 88%. Patients with autoimmune thyroidopathy presented higher percentages of conjunctivochalasis than the control group, confirming the association between them. The cytologic study showed the highest prevalence of abnormal surface features in eyes with conjunctivochalasis.

Impression cytology findings in bullous keratopathy

Aim To evaluate, by impression cytology (IC), the cytological features of the central area of corneal epithelial surface of patients with symptomatic bullous keratopathy (BK). Design Cross-sectional observational case series. Methods IC of the central cornea was performed in 72 eyes of 72 patients with symptomatic BK between June 2005 and December 2006. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (group GC) or not of goblet cells (group NGC). The diagnosis of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) was defined by the presence of one or more intact goblet cells on the corneal surface. Squamous metaplasia was classified according to Murube and Rivas. Results Epithelial squamous metaplasia was found in 72 (100%) eyes, along with conjunctival goblet cells in 25 (34.72%) eyes. Squamous metaplasia was grade 1 in group GC and more advanced grades in group NGC. Corneal neovascularisation was present in 62 (82.11%) eyes. Vessel measure was more than 4 mm in 11 eyes (23.4%) in group NGC and 10 eyes (40%) in group GC (p=0.559), and they were mostly subepithelial in 23 eyes (48.9%) in group NGC and 12 (48%) eyes in group GC (p=0.822). Conclusion Squamous metaplasia was the most frequent finding associated with advanced BK. The presence of goblet cells on the surface of corneas with squamous metaplasia grade 1, in a significant number of patients, suggests that limbal stem cell deficiency is a common condition associated with advanced cases of BK.

Use of impression cytology for the detection of unsuspected ocular surface squamous neoplasia cells in pterygia

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between the methodologies of impression cytology (IC) and histopathology regarding epithelial lesions clinically diagnosed as pterygium and also regarding the detection of unsuspected and associated ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Methods: Thirty-two Brazilian patients were included and IC was performed on all pterygia before excision. Histopathogical examination was considered the gold standard and was performed by two experienced ocular pathologists in which consensus existed regarding pterygia diagnosis. IC accuracy was assessed by sensitivity and specificity with a 95% confidence interval. Results: From the 32 primary lesions studied, histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pterygium without atypical cells in 19 cases (60%) and showed unsuspected and associated OSSN cells in 13 cases (40%). IC demonstrated one false-negative and one false-positive result for atypia. Statistical analysis showed an estimated sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 94%, positive predictive value of 92%, and negative predictive value of 94%. Conclusion: IC demonstrated high agreement with histopathological analysis in the detection of atypical epithelial cells in unsuspected OSSN in Brazilian pterygia patients.

Citologia de impressão no diagnóstico de infecção corneana por Acanthamoeba: relato de caso

To describe three cases of corneal infection due to Acanthamoeba sp in which was possible to detect Acanthamoeba sp cysts by the corneal impression cytology technique. Three patients referred to the External Eye Disease Laboratory in 2004 with superficial corneal alterations were submitted to corneal specimen collection by impression cytology filter paper to investigate the presence of Acanthamoeba sp cysts. Two impression cytology samples were obtained from each patient and were stained by PAS, hematoxylin and Papanicolaou. Routine microbiological investigation and culture were also performed using corneal scraping. Positive culture and impression cytology for Acanthamoeba sp was observed in all patients while smears with Giemsa stain were positive in two. Impression cytology Acanthamoeba sp cysts were observed among sheets of corneal epithelial cells and as isolated cells. Cysts were also found in the superficial epithelium in one of these patients after treatment while corneal scraping did not reveal any cyst. Histopathology revealed cysts in the epithelium and stroma in a transplanted cornea in one of these patients. The first description of impression cytology as a diagnostic method for Acanthamoeba keratitis occurred recently. In this study corneal impression cytology detected Acanthamoeba sp cysts successfully in these patients with only superficial involvement. Impression cytology as a non invasive technique can be used to facilitate early recognition of Acanthamoeba infection playing a useful role in the follow-up of the disease.

Impression cytologic analysis after corneal collagen cross-linking using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light in the treatment of keratoconus.

Purpose: To report impression cytologic (IC) results after corneal cross-linking (CXL) using riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light in the treatment of keratoconus and compare the data with those from a group of subjects with the same disease. Methods: Forty eyes were distributed into 2 groups: patients in group 1 underwent CXL, whereas patients in group 2 received riboflavin 0.1% eyedrops for 1 month of topical use. IC specimens were obtained from all eyes before treatment and 1 and 3 months after treatment. Results: Patients in group 1 showed a decrease in goblet cell density on the superior conjunctiva after CXL (P = 0.008) but no difference on the temporal conjunctiva or in the cornea. Patients in group 2 demonstrated improvement in cell-to-cell contact of epithelial cells and reduced keratinization on the temporal conjunctiva after treatment (P = 0.003 and P = 0.034, respectively) but no changes on the superior conjunctiva or in the cornea. Fisher exact test comparison of IC total scores after treatment revealed no difference between groups. Conclusions: Despite changes in goblet cell density after corneal CXL in the superior conjunctiva and an improvement in the morphology of epithelial cells after the use of riboflavin eyedrops, comparison of total IC scores showed no difference between groups.