Publications by authors named "Alessandro Abbouda"
Article Synopsis
- * Four patients with no corneal sensation were treated with AST drops, and after 3-7 months, all showed significant nerve regeneration and improved corneal feeling, as confirmed by advanced imaging and sensation testing.
- * Despite the success of AST in improving nerve health, three out of four patients experienced complications (stromal keratitis and ulceration) shortly after nerve regeneration, suggesting the need for additional treatments like topical steroids and antiviral therapy.
Article Synopsis
- * The introduction of the gene therapy drug voretigene neparvovec-rzyl has produced variable treatment results, influenced by factors such as the condition of photoreceptors and possible immune reactions to the treatment vector.
- * Differences in genetic mutations often lead to overlapping symptoms among various retinal dystrophies, complicating the determination of suitable candidates for gene therapy, highlighting the need for clear guidelines to improve treatment outcomes and justify the high costs.
(1) Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common manifestation of dry eye syndrome (DES). (2) Methods: The purpose of this study is to identify clinical parameters and biomarkers useful to improve the follow-up and the treatment of these patients. We have used an ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer test I/II, tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), fluorescein plus lissamine green staining, Marx's line (ML), and meibomian gland (MGs) morphology using Sirius Topographer (CSO, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To assess the effect of corneal scar location on corneal nerve regeneration in patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis in their affected and contralateral eyes over a 1-year period by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and to correlate these findings to corneal sensation measured by Cochet-Bonnet Esthesiometer.
Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, case-control study. Bilateral corneal nerve density and corneal sensation were analyzed centrally and peripherally in 24 healthy controls and 23 patients with unilateral HSV-related corneal scars using IVCM.
Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a rheumatic condition of childhood that is frequently associated with anterior chronic uveitis. Evidence suggests that uveitis may persist up to adulthood in some cases, possibly causing severe visual impairment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on a series of patients aged 16 years or older with JIA-related active uveitis who were referred to the Uveitis Service of Sapienza University of Rome from 1990 to 2019 to evaluate the characteristics of ocular disease in patients with JIA-associated uveitis (JIA-U) who still exhibit uveitis in adulthood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChoroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked recessive chorioretinal dystrophy caused by mutations in CHM, encoding for Rab escort protein 1 (REP1). Loss of functional REP1 leads to the accumulation of unprenylated Rab proteins and defective intracellular protein trafficking, the putative cause for photoreceptor, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choroidal degeneration. CHM is ubiquitously expressed, but adequate prenylation is considered to be achieved, outside the retina, through the isoform REP2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked recessive chorioretinal dystrophy caused by mutations involving the gene. Gene therapy has entered late-phase clinical trials, although there have been variable results. This review gives a summary on the outcomes of phase I/II CHM gene therapy trials and describes other potential experimental therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study investigates the challenge of diagnosing neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) and aims to identify an objective sign using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) to differentiate it from dry eye disease (DED).
- A comparative analysis of patients was conducted, including those diagnosed with NCP, DED, and healthy controls, focusing on nerve density, microneuromas, and dendritiform cell density based on IVCM scans.
- Results indicated that while both NCP and DED patients had decreased nerve density, microneuromas were exclusively found in NCP patients, highlighting their potential as a key diagnostic feature for NCP.
Objective: To investigate the retinal changes in choroideremia (CHM) patients to determine correlations between age, structure and function.
Subjects/methods: Twenty-six eyes from 13 male CHM patients were included in this prospective longitudinal study. Participants were divided into <50-year (n = 8) and ≥50-year (n = 5) old groups.
Purpose: To report unusual and rare clinical changes of retinal vessel pattern in a series of patients affected by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) uveitis with a follow-up longer than 16 years.
Methods: A series of three patients with JIA-uveitis followed at the University of Rome "Sapienza" from 1998 to 2014 were reported. The retinal vessels were analyzed with fluorescein angiography using Heidelberg Retinal Angiogram-2 (HRA-2; Heidelberg Engineering GmBH, Dossenheim, Germany) and the Topcon TRC-50LX retinal camera (Topcon Europe, The Netherlands).
Purpose: Diagnosis of graft rejection is based on patient symptoms and on clinical signs detected by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. This study investigated whether laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) can aid in the diagnosis of corneal graft rejection by detecting cellular corneal changes that take place after transplantation.
Design: Prospective case-control study.
Background And Objective: To identify qualitative and quantitative features of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) as prognostic indicators of visual acuity (VA) loss in patients with choroideremia (CHM).
Patients And Methods: Retrospective study of 57 male patients with CHM. Central foveal thickness (CFT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), fundus autofluorescence area, and evidence of outer retinal and choroidal degeneration were analyzed by SD-OCT.
Background/aims: To determine the UK incidence, demographics, aetiology, management and visual outcome for children developing choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).
Methods: A prospective population-based observational study of routine practice via the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit between January 2012 and December 2013 with subsequent 1-year follow-up in children under 16 years old with newly diagnosed CNV.
Results: Twenty-seven children with CNV were reported.
Purpose: To compare clinical features of uveitis in patients affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Methods: A retrospective case-control study.
Results: 117 patients were affected by uveitis and psoriasis or PsA (92 and 25 patients, respectively) from 2003 to 2013.
Background/aims: To report the clinical, histopathological and genetic features of a variant of lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) associated with two pathogenic mutations in the transforming growth factor-B-induced () gene.
Methods: Clinical characterisation was performed by slit lamp examination and in vivo confocal microscopic imaging (IVCM). Histopathological characterisation was performed with light microscopic examination of an excised corneal button and a peripheral blood samples were collected for screening.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to create a method for differentiating subclinical keratoconus from normal eyes using biomechanical data from a non-contact tonometer called Corvis-ST.
- Researchers analyzed data from 212 eyes, splitting them into healthy eyes and those with subclinical keratoconus, and focused on factors like age, sex, intraocular pressure, and corneal thickness.
- Two discriminant functions were developed, finding significant differences in biomechanical parameters between the groups, with high sensitivity (85.7%) and specificity (82.07%), suggesting this approach is promising for early detection of subclinical keratoconus.
Purpose: To evaluate outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy up to -10.00 D of myopia and -4.50 of astigmatism and to develop a predictive model for the refractive changes in the long term.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study is to report the clinical and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in a patient suffering from ulcerative colitis with bilateral tubercular chorioretinitis and intraretinal granuloma regressed with systemic antitubercular therapy (ATT). This study is a case report of a 33-year-old Bangladeshi male with ulcerative colitis treated with oral corticosteroids and azathioprine who was referred to our department with a diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy. Serological tests, the Mantoux skin test, complete ophthalmologic examination, ocular fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and SD-OCT scans were performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the rate and onset of intraoperative and postoperative complications post-phacoemulsification.
Methods: One hundred sixty-two eyes of 145 patients with uveitis who underwent phacoemulsification between 2006 and 2009 were identified through surgical record review. Fifty-nine eyes of 46 patients met the inclusion criteria.
To report the clinical findings and management of a case of Aspergillus flavus endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and combined cataract extraction. Clinical cornea appearance was evaluated by slit-lamp examination. Ocular ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the anterior chamber and vitreous cavity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for high myopia with or without astigmatism.
Setting: Vissum Instituto Oftalmologico de Alicante and Miguel Hernandez University, Alicante, Spain.
Design: Retrospective-prospective case series.
Article Synopsis
- Discoid lupus erythematosus can cause rare ocular issues, including orbital inflammation, which is not commonly reported in the medical literature.
- A 37-year-old woman with a history of discoid lupus experienced symptoms like exophthalmos (bulging eye), peri-orbital pain, and blurred vision, leading to further imaging and tests.
- The case is notable as it's the first documented instance of orbital myositis associated with discoid lupus, successfully treated with corticosteroids.
Aim: To assess the attitude and practice of contact lens (CL) wearers among teenage school students and to evaluate how much the teenagers adhere to the CL care procedures according to the proper care of CL guidelines.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of Italian teenagers from high schools in Rome who wear CL. We inquired about the different aspects of CL care through a questionnaire.
Purpose: To describe the corneal appearance on confocal microscopy after AcuFocus KAMRA Inlay (AcuFocus, Inc., Irvine, CA) implantation and evaluate the visual acuity compared to the confocal microscopy data.
Methods: Twelve eyes of 12 patients implanted with one of three models of the AcuFocus KAMRA Inlay (ACI 7000, 7000T, and 7000PDT) were prospectively evaluated by confocal microscopy 6 months after implantation.
Purpose: To demonstrate the surgical application of a new model of epidescemetic keratoprosthesis.
Methods: A 53-year-old man was referred to our center with severe alkali burns in both eyes and was treated by a combined corneal graft associated with KeraKlear implantation assisted by femtosecond laser and cataract surgery with implantation of an intraocular lens.
Results: After 1 month, visual acuity was 0.