Namir Clementino Santos

Membrana amniótica nas cirurgias reconstrutivas da superfície ocular nas ceratoconjuntivites cicatriciais

Purpose: Amniotic membrane has been consolidated as an useful adjunct in the treatment of ocular surface disorders. Its use is based on the ability to improve epithelial healing and to decrease inflammatory, angiogenic and cicatricial processes. The purpose of this study was to report the surgical outcome of human amniotic membrane use for surface reconstruction in ocular cicatricial diseases. Methods: Amniotic membrane was obtained at the time of cesarean section and was preserved at -80oC in glycerol and cornea culture media at a ratio of 1:1. Eleven eyes of 10 patients underwent amniotic membrane transplantation, associated (8 eyes) or not (3 eyes) with corneal limbal graft. Ocular surface reconstruction was performed after chemical burns (6 eyes), trauma (1 eye) and Stevens-Johnsons syndrome (SJS) (4 eyes). Results: Mean follow-up time was 5.22 months (range, 2-13 months). One case of SSJ developed early postoperative infection and was excluded from the analysis. Successful ocular surface reconstruction was achieved in 8 eyes (80%). Surgical failure was observed in 2 cases of SJS who presented corneal melting at the time of surgery (20%). Conclusions: This study suggests that amniotic membrane transplantation is an effective alternative for surface reconstruction in stable ocular cicatricial diseases. Larger studies with longer follow-up are necessary to further analyse this procedure.

Análise ultraestrutural e de fatores de crescimento de diferentes métodos de preservação da membrana amniótica utilizada em cirurgia ocular

PURPOSE: To compare the anatomical structure and the presence of growth factors and cytokines of amniotic membrane preserved in glycerol/MEM (1:1) or undiluted dimethyl sulfoxide through electron microscopy. METHODS: Amniotic membrane preserved in glycerol/MEM (1:1) or undiluted dimethyl sulfoxide were processed for transmission and scaning electron microscopy. As control, freshly collected amniotic membrane was fixed and processed for electron microscopy. The cytokines and growth factors assessed were: TGF-b (transforming growth factor b); TGF-b activ (activated transforming growth factor b); EGF (epidermal growth factor); FGF-4 (fibroblast growth factor 4); bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor); IL-4 (interleukin 4); PGE2 (prostaglandin E2); IL-10 (interleukin 10); KGF (keratinocyte growth factor); HGF (hepatocyte growth factor). RESULTS: Amniotic membrane from the control group showed intact epithelium, with surface microvilli and junctional complexes between the cells and the basal membrane. Glycerol/MEM preserved amniotic membrane had similar aspect to the control, with higher epithelial cells. Those amniotic membranes preserved in dimethyl sulfoxide disclosed less intercellular junction and detachment of the epithelium from the basal membrane. The cytokines and growth factors did not disclose significant differences, except for FGF-4, bFGF, PGE2 and KGF. CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane preserved in glycerol/MEM showed a better tissue structure, with less detachment of the epithelium from the basal membrane, in comparison to undiluted dimethyl sulfoxide. The majority of the growth factors and cytokines were kept with both techniques of preservation.

Manifestações destrutivas da córnea e esclera associadas a doenças do tecido conectivo: relato de 9 casos

PURPOSE: To study the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of nine patients with corneal and scleral involvement associated to connective tissue disease. METHODS: Description of anterior segment abnormalities observed in nine patients with connective tissue disease, five of them previously diagnosed and four with the ocular involvement being the first manifestation of the disease. All patients were evaluated at the Corneal and External Diseases outpatient clinic of the Federal University of Sao Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM) between July/1999 to December/2000 and were submitted to a complete ophthalmologic examination, clinical evaluation and laboratory investigation. Clinical or surgical treatment was indicated according to the ocular disease evolution. RESULTS: The clinical diagnoses of the patients with anterior segment inflammatory disease were rheumatoid arthritis in seven patients (77.8%), systemic sclerosis and Wegener´s granulomatosis in each of the remaining patients (22.2%). The most frequent ocular manifestation was scleritis (66.6%), followed by peripheral ulcerative keratitis (55.5%) and dry eye syndrome (44.4%). Eighty-nine percent (89%) of the patients required immunosuppressive therapy to control the ocular inflammatory disease. Remission of the ocular symptoms were observed after 3 months of the beginning of imunossupressive therapy on average. In 55.5% of the patients a surgical approach (conjunctival resection, application of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive, penetrating keratoplasty and scleral patch graft) was necessary. CONCLUSION: The finding of corneal and scleral involvement associated with connective tissue disease is a sign of the disease activity and usually requires imunossupressive therapy. The ophthalmologists should be aware of these conditions in order to early diagnose and apply the appropriate treatment.

Transplante de córnea em ceratite por herpes simples

Objetivo: Avaliacao de transplante de cornea em ceratite por herpes simples. Metodos: Foram revisados os prontuarios de 38 pacientes submetidos a transplante de cornea por herpes simples, no periodo de 1993 a 1998. Todos os pacientes tinham apenas um olho acometido. Foi avaliada a transparencia do botao corneano, reacao de rejeicao, recidiva da infeccao herpetica e acuidade visual final. Pacientes que usaram profilaxia antiviral foram comparados com os que nao usaram. O seguimento pos-operatorio variou de 6 a 68 meses (media de 21). Resultados: Trinta e um enxertos (81,6%) permaneceram transparentes. Reacao de rejeicao ocorreu em 14 pacientes (36,8%) e recidiva da ceratite herpetica em 4 (10,5%). A acuidade visual pos-operatoria foi melhor ou igual a 0,25 em 60% dos pacientes. Nao houve diferenca estatisticamente significante na sobrevivencia do enxerto entre o grupo que usou e o que nao usou antiviral sistemico profilatico. Conclusao: Melhores resultados tem sido alcancados no transplante de cornea em ceratite herpetica.

Nodulose reumatóide epibulbar bilateral: relato de caso

A 64-year-old woman with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis developed painless bilateral episcleral rheumatoid nodules without any flareup of her associated disease. Biopsy of the lesions disclosed a lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration within the conjunctiva, overlying palisading granulomas with multinucleated giant cells, and central necrobiotic degeneration of the collagen of the episclera and superficial sclera. The rheumatologic designation for the development of groups of nodules in inactive rheumatoid arthritis is rheumatoid nodulosis.

Análise do custo-benefício da avaliação ocular de pacientes portadores de rosácea

PURPOSE: To observe the main ocular manifestations of patients with rosacea and to evaluate the cost-benefit of supplementary diagnostic examinations. METHODS: Twenty patients with acne rosacea from the Dermatology Service of the Sao Paulo Federal University (UNIFESP) were interviewed through a questionnaire, submitted to ophthalmologic examination and tested with Schirmer I, fluorescein and rose Bengal staining, impression cytology and conjunctival scrub. The costs of these examinations were abstracted from the Public Health Systems values (SUS), Brazilian Medical Association values (AMB) and values charged by a private service. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrollet initially in the study, but only 16 completed it. Eleven patients were female (55%), 19 were white (95%) and the average age was 56 years. All patients had at least one complaint related to rosacea. The most common symptoms were itching (40%), tearing (35%), foreign body sensation (30%). The most common signs were telangiectasis of lid margins (70%), hyperemia of lid margins (70%), meibomitis (65%) and blepharitis (50%). Most subsidiary examination showed normal results. There was difference of costs between the different paying sources. CONCLUSIONS: The main ocular manifestations in rosacea were related with meibomian gland disease. Considering the subsidiary examination costs and their results, the ophthalmologic check-up presents the best cost-benefit for the patient with rosacea.

Toxicidade córneo-conjuntival do colírio de iodo-povidona: estudo experimental

PURPOSE: To evaluate ocular toxicity of povidone-iodine eye drops at a concentration of 2.5% and 0.5% and to investigate the effects on corneal epithelial wound healing and histopathological alterations. METHODS: Each group (PVP-I 2.5% and 0.5%) consisted of 20 rabbits. A central circular corneal epithelial defect of 6.5 mm diameter was created and the povidone-iodine eyedrops (2.5% and 0.5) instilled in the right eye and distilled water in the left eye (control) of each rabbit, every hour, during 3 days. Biomicroscopical examinations were performed every day, focussing on the corneoconjunctival surface and the diameter of the lesion, using fluoresceine eye drops, photodocumentation, and a computerized image analyzer. After the third day the rabbits were sacrified and the excised corneas histopathologically evaluated. Statistical evaluation was performed using Friedman, Mann-Witney, Wilcoxon, Fisher and Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Povidone-iodine eye drops, at a concentration of 2.5%, caused an increase in the wound healing time (p= 0.087) and conjuntivitis in 100% of the eyes with mucous secretion in 80%, punctate ceratitis in 40%, and discrete stromal edema in 10% of the cases. The histopathological examination showed corneal ulcers and vacuolic degeneration of the endothelial layer in 100%, as well as an inflammatory infiltrate with eosinophils in 80% of the cases. The eyes treated with povidone-iodine eye drops at a concentration of 0.5% and the control eyes showed complete epithelial wound healing after 72 hours, and histopathologically normal epithelization. Only in one case, a discrete perilimbar leucocytic infiltrate was observed. CONCLUSION: The ocular toxicity of povidone-iodine eye drops is concentration-dependent. The use of the eye drop at a concentration of 2.5% is not adequate for daily and repetitive use. In contrast, at a concentration of 0.5% no toxicity was observed.

Imunofluorescência direta no diagnóstico de casos suspeitos de penfigóide cicatricial ocular

OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste estudo e caracterizar por meio do exame oftalmologico os pacientes com suspeita clinica de penfigoide cicatricial ocular e apresentar os resultados obtidos com a tecnica de imunofluorescencia direta. METODOS: Estudo prospectivo realizado no setor de Cornea e Doencas Externas da Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Foram examinados 18 pacientes com suspeita clinica de penfigoide cicatricial ocular e realizadas biopsias de conjuntiva para o processamento da imunofluorescencia direta em 13 pacientes (26 olhos), que nao estavam na vigencia de imunossupressao sistemica ou terapeutica antiglaucomatosa topica. RESULTADOS: Segundo o estadiamento de Foster, a proporcao de olhos classificados de I a IV foram: 3,8%, 3,8%, 77%, 15,4% respectivamente. Apenas 3 (23%) pacientes apresentaram imunofluorescencia direta positiva. CONCLUSAO: A maioria dos pacientes encontravam-se em estagio avancado da doenca, o que denota retardo no diagnostico. A imunofluorescencia direta apresentou baixa sensibilidade em detectar depositos de imunocomplexos na membrana basal da conjuntiva, quando comparada aos dados da literatura.