Effect of inhibition of the FGFR-MAPK signaling pathway on the development of ocular toxicities.

By the introduction of molecularly targeted anti-cancer drugs, that are designed to intervene with specific pathways aberrant in cancers with distinct mutations, the type of adverse events encountered has changed greatly compared to the adverse events profile of classical chemotherapeutic agents. Ocular toxicities, such as serous retinal detachment and retinal vein occlusion, are observed in the treatment with several protein kinase inhibitors, such as MEK inhibitors. This review discusses the pathophysiology, diagnosis and advice for clinical management of these toxicities, and focuses on the current understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Ocular complications of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Focus on the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with ganciclovir and foscarnet.

The most common ocular complication in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is cytomegalovirus retinitis. Incidence figures vary from 20 to 76%. Patients with cytomegalovirus may suffer from mild visual impairment of one or both eyes, but as the disease progresses the retinitis will almost certainly lead to blindness.

Antibodies to a 15 kD nuclear antigen in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis and uveitis.

Young girls with a pauciarticular onset of juvenile chronic arthritis and circulating antinuclear antibodies are at risk for chronic uveitis. The actual nuclear antigen for these antinuclear antibodies has not been defined. Conventional laboratory techniques, such as counter immunoelectrophoresis, have shown that antibodies to well defined "extractable nuclear antigens" (eg, RNP, Sm, SS-A, and SS-B) are not present in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis.

Endophthalmitis after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.

A 63-year-old patient underwent a Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, 5 months after an extracapsular cataract extraction. One day later endophthalmitis had developed. Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from the vitreous.

Autoimmunity against corneal antigens. II. Accessibility of the 54 kD corneal antigen for circulating antibodies.

Autoantibodies against corneal epithelium antigens are frequently found in patients with corneal diseases, but also in patients with uveitis. To investigate whether these autoantibodies play a primary role in the pathogenesis of corneal disease we studied the distribution of a 54 kD corneal antigen (isolated in a previous study) within the eye. Animal experiments were performed to determine the accessibility of this antigen by its corresponding antibody.