Publications by authors named "Maria Pia Paroli"

Purpose: The clinical relevance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes such as HLA-B51 on Behçet's disease (BD)-related uveitis and non-infectious uveitis (NIU) unrelated to BD remains largely unknown.

Methods: Data were prospectively collected from the International AIDA Network Registry for BD and for NIU. We assessed differences between groups (NIU unrelated to BD and positive for HLA-B51, BD-related uveitis positive for HLA-B51 and BD-related uveitis negative for HLA-B51) in terms of long-term ocular complications, visual acuity (VA) measured by best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anatomical pattern, occurrence of retinal vasculitis (RV) and macular edema over time.

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  • Many biological drug patents have expired, leading to the development of biosimilar agents (BIOs), but their use in children raises concerns, prompting a study on their efficacy and safety for treating pediatric non-infectious uveitis (NIU).
  • Data collected from pediatric patients treated with TNF inhibitors BIOs showed a significant decrease in flare-ups and ocular complications, as well as a reduction in the need for glucocorticoids during treatment.
  • The study included 47 patients, demonstrating strong treatment retention rates and maintaining visual acuity throughout the therapy, while only recording a few minor adverse events.
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  • The study investigates the awareness and diagnostic practices related to monogenic uveitis (mU) among uveitis specialists through an anonymous survey conducted with members of the Autoinflammatory Diseases Alliance and International Uveitis Study Group.
  • Results showed that a majority of participants rated their knowledge of mU as poor, with 60.4% identifying NOD2 as the primary gene, and success rates in clinical scenarios varied significantly, especially among those in multidisciplinary teams.
  • The findings highlight knowledge gaps and barriers in prescribing disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), suggesting that the results could guide the development of better clinical guidelines and improve patient care.
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  • The study investigates the effectiveness of adalimumab (ADA), a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, in treating pediatric patients with non-infectious non-anterior uveitis, where scientific evidence is currently limited.
  • Data from the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) registry were analyzed, involving 21 patients who received ADA treatment for various types of uveitis.
  • Results showed significant improvements, with a decrease in ocular inflammation, fewer ocular flares, and reduced glucocorticoid usage, indicating ADA's potential as an effective therapy for these patients.
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Purpose: To evaluate visual and refractive outcomes of customized photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in subjects with persistent subepithelial corneal opacities secondary to adenoviral epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC).

Patients And Methods: Prospective study, which recruited patients with persistent and visually-significant post-EKC corneal opacities unresponsive to prolonged topical therapy (6 months or more). Outcome measures: uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuity, subjective refractive astigmatism, keratometric astigmatism, spherical equivalent, minimum corneal thickness, and corneal morphological irregularity index.

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  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a serious autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women and can cause damage to multiple organs, sometimes leading to life-threatening conditions.
  • The disease is distinguished by the presence of autoantibodies that form immune complexes, leading to inflammation and organ damage, and its pathogenesis involves both innate and adaptive immune responses.
  • Recent advancements have led to the development of targeted therapies that aim for personalized treatment, but these new drugs are currently meant to complement traditional, often toxic therapies while researchers continue to explore future treatment possibilities that could potentially cure SLE.
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Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving the spine, peripheral joints, and entheses. This condition causes stiffness, pain, and significant limitation of movement. In recent years, several effective therapies have become available based on the use of biologics that selectively block cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-23.

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T-helper 17 (Th17) cells represent a subpopulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes that play an essential role in defense against pathogens. Th17 cells are distinguished from Th1 and Th2 cells by their ability to produce members of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) family, namely IL-17A and IL-17F. IL-17 in turn induces several target cells to synthesize and release cytokines, chemokines, and metalloproteinases, thereby amplifying the inflammatory cascade.

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: To investigate the etiology, clinical features, ocular complications, and visual outcomes in children with infectious uveitis referred to a tertiary uveitis hospital-based service. : Children with infectious uveitis were included in a retrospective cohort study. The data set was obtained after reviewing the medical records of pediatric patients with uveitis of different causes referred to our center during the period from 2009 to 2019.

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: Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a cytokine family consisting of six members and five specific receptors. IL-17A was the first member to be identified in 1993. Since then, several studies have elucidated that IL-17 has predominantly pro-inflammatory activity and that its production is involved in both the defense against pathogens and the genesis of autoimmune processes.

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We describe the unusual case of a young woman with tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) with bilateral diffuse uveitis and optic nerve inflammatory involvement since she was a child in the 1990s. Imaging diagnostic tools such as fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT angiography revealed inactive juxtapapillary choroidal neovascularization (CNV) after 25 years of follow-up. After treatment, uveitis went into remission with BCVA 20/20 in both eyes and CNV lesions became inactive.

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Background: Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome (TINU) is a rare disorder typically characterized by sudden-onset non-granulomatous anterior uveitis associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). However, the prevalence and clinical features of TINU are still a matter of debate. To add information about TINU, we describe here the clinical features of a series of patients affected by TINU in a retrospective study.

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  • - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a common condition in children that can lead to uveitis, an eye inflammation that often goes unnoticed until it's advanced, causing serious vision issues.
  • - Initial treatment usually involves topical steroids; however, more severe cases may need stronger therapies like systemic corticosteroids, which can have long-term side effects such as growth issues and eye complications.
  • - The review discusses different immunosuppressive treatments, including anti-TNF biologics and newer options targeting CTLA-4 and IL-6R, along with the potential of JAK inhibitors for patients who don't respond to standard treatments.
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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.

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Objective: Aim of this paper is to present the design, construction, and modalities of dissemination of the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) International Registry for patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), which are the pediatric and adult forms of the same autoinflammatory disorder.

Methods: This Registry is a clinical, physician-driven, population- and electronic-based instrument implemented for the retrospective and prospective collection of real-world data. The collection of data is based on the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool and is intended to obtain evidence drawn from routine patients' management.

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  • The paper discusses the creation of the AIDA International Registry, aimed at tracking data for pediatric and adult patients with non-infectious uveitis.
  • This registry collects a wide range of standardized information through a digital platform called REDCap, focusing on patient demographics, clinical data, and treatment details to enhance research quality.
  • As of late 2021, 95 centers from 19 countries are participating, and the registry is expected to help in global research collaborations and improve understanding of non-infectious uveitis.
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  • - The article discusses the creation and implementation of a global registry by the AIDA Network to gather data from both pediatric and adult patients with immune-mediated scleritis.
  • - Using the REDCap tool, the registry collects a wide range of data securely, while allowing for adaptability as scientific knowledge grows and enabling collaboration with other registries for sustainability.
  • - Since its inception, the registry has engaged 99 centers across 20 countries, collecting comprehensive data to enhance research and improve clinical management of this rare ocular inflammatory condition.
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Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between a novel psychometric 12-item questionnaire (U-qest) and other validated questionnaires to assess quality of life and work impairment in patients with non-infectious uveitis.

Methods: Data were collected at baseline and 3 months postbaseline using U-qest and two other validated questionnaires: The National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12).

Results: A total of 136 patients (52.

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Purpose: to study the clinical features of uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema (UGH) syndrome, particularly those useful for a differential diagnosis from unilateral hypertensive acute anterior uveitis.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on the clinical features of 9 patients with UGH syndrome. These features were then compared with those detected in 50 patients with unilateral hypertensive acute anterior uveitis.

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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).

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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.

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Purpose: To evaluate the changes in corneal sensitivity after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with the epithelium off (epi-off) and with the epithelium on (epi-on) in eyes with keratoconus.

Design: Prospective interventional case series.

Setting: Eye Clinic, A.

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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.

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Purpose: To describe the frequencies and risk factors of ocular complications and poor visual outcomes in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study, including 69 consecutive children (116 eyes) affected by JIA-associated uveitis managed at a tertiary uveitis clinic.

Results: The incidence of visual loss to the 20/50 or worse threshold was 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the development of severe macular edema in adolescent girls with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and chronic anterior uveitis (CAU).
  • Four female patients were analyzed, revealing that CAU was bilateral in three, with patients experiencing the onset of arthritis and uveitis at a young age.
  • Despite receiving treatment and undergoing cataract surgery, the patients developed significant unilateral macular edema during adolescence, indicating the potential risks associated with surgery and hormonal changes.
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