Scanning laser tomography of full thickness idiopathic macular holes.

Aim: We used a retinal tomographic analyser to study the profile of the retinal surface in patients with stage 3 and 4 idiopathic macular holes, to attempt to elucidate the direction of forces present.

Methods: The Heidelberg retina tomograph was used to acquire a three-dimensional tomographic image of the macula in each eye of 21 consecutive patients with full thickness macular hole.

Results: The surface profile showed an elevated rim around the 24 macular holes imaged, with a gently sloping outside edge and a steeply sloping inside edge.

The scanning laser ophthalmoscope and retinal assessment in diabetes.

In order to evaluate the Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope as a method of assessing diabetic retinopathy, 57 consecutive patients with diabetes were examined through undilated pupils using laser ophthalmoscopy followed by pupillary dilatation and direct ophthalmoscopy. Results of laser scanning were recorded on videotape and analysed independently. Scanning (both eyes) took under 5 minutes per patient.

Scleroderma and intestinal perforation.

We report four cases of scleroderma and intestinal perforation. There were three instances of colonic perforations, two associated with fecal impaction and stercoral ulceration and one with evidence of vasculitis. The fourth patient was an unusual instance of spontaneous perforation of the small intestine in scleroderma.

Effect of D-penicillamine on copper retention in patients with primary billiary cirrhosis.

As part of a double blind, randomized trial evaluating D-penicillamine in primary biliary cirrhosis, we monitored urinary copper excretion and hepatic copper concentration during the 1st year of therapy in 46 patients with this disease. The retention of copper in primary biliary cirrhosis was confirmed by finding abnormally high levels of standard copper measurements in almost all patients before treatment. The hepatic copper was elevated in 43 of 45 patients, the urinary copper in 42 of 46, and the ceruloplasmin in 46 of 46.