Outcomes and complications of cataract surgery in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host-disease-a multicenter, retrospective analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of phacoemulsification in patients with chronic ocular Graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT).

Methods: Retrospective, observational multicenter study from 1507 oGVHD patients. From the patient files, data were collected including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), Schirmer's test I, tear film break-up time (TFBUT), corneal fluorescein staining score, postoperative complications, and pre- and post-operative topical therapy.

Course of disease in multifocal choroiditis lacking sufficient immunosuppression: a case report.

Background: Multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis is a rare disease. The educational merit of this case presentation results from the good documentation and the impressive ocular fundus pictures.

Case Presentation: We illustrate the 3-year course of disease in a 22-year-old myopic white woman with multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis and secondary choroidal neovascularization.

[Fusarium keratitis with dramatic outcome].

Background: Fungal keratitis is much less common in Europe than in Asia. Antifungal therapy can be applied topically as well as systemically and in advanced situations surgical intervention can become necessary.

Case Report: We present the case of a 60-year-old woman who suffered from Fusarium keratitis that showed progression to endophthalmitis following contact lens wearing.

Conjunctival fibrosis following filtering glaucoma surgery.

Despite advances in surgical technique and postoperative care, fibrosis remains the major impediment to a marked reduction of intraocular pressure without the need of additional medication (complete success) following filtering glaucoma surgery. Several aspects specific to filtering surgery may contribute to enhanced fibrosis. Changes in conjunctival tissue structure and composition due to preceding treatments as well as alterations in interstitial fluid flow and content due to aqueous humor efflux may act as important drivers of fibrosis.

[Immunotherapy of uveal melanoma: vaccination against cancer. Multicenter adjuvant phase 3 vaccination study using dendritic cells laden with tumor RNA for large newly diagnosed uveal melanoma].

Uveal melanomas are the most common malignant tumors of the eye. With modern molecular biological diagnostic methods, such as chromosome 3 typing and gene expression analysis, these tumors can be categorized into highly aggressive (monosomy 3, class II) and less aggressive forms. This molecular biological stratification is primarily important for determining the risk of these tumors as no therapy is currently available that is able to prevent or delay metastases.

Correlation Between Tear Film Osmolarity and the Disease Score of the International Chronic Ocular Graft-Versus-Host-Disease Consensus Group in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients.

Purpose: To evaluate tear film osmolarity (TFO) as a diagnostic tool for detecting chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and to assess its correlation with the new international chronic ocular GVHD score.

Methods: A group of 204 consecutive patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at University Hospital Wuerzburg in Germany received an ophthalmologic examination after transplantation. TFO was measured and the chronic ocular GVHD score was calculated based on the Schirmer test, corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival injection, Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, and presence of systemic GVHD.

[The German Acanthamoeba keratitis register: Initial results of a multicenter study].

Background And Purpose: In September 2011 the cornea section of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) established the first German Acanthamoeba keratitis registry. The data of this multicenter survey are being collected, compiled and evaluated at the Department of Ophthalmology at the Saarland University. The aim of this article is to present an intermediate report.

Correlation between tear film osmolarity, dry eye disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of tear film osmolarity as a diagnostic tool for detecting dry eye disease (DED) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The second aim was to determine whether there is a relationship between tear film osmolarity, a commonly used RA score, and diagnostic blood tests for RA.

Methods: A group of 74 patients with RA but without any previously established diagnosis of DED at University Hospital Wurzburg was examined.

Aganirsen antisense oligonucleotide eye drops inhibit keratitis-induced corneal neovascularization and reduce need for transplantation: the I-CAN study.

Objective: Eye drops of aganirsen, an antisense oligonucleotide preventing insulin receptor substrate-1 expression, inhibited corneal neovascularization in a previous dose-finding phase II study. We aimed to confirm these results in a phase III study and investigated a potential clinical benefit on visual acuity (VA), quality of life (QoL), and need for transplantation.

Design: Multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study.

Epithelial wound healing on keratin film, amniotic membrane and polystyrene in vitro.

Purpose: Corneal epithelial wound healing is a major issue in ocular surface (OS) reconstruction. Aim of this study was to evaluate parameters of epithelial wound healing in vitro on transparent keratin films (KFs) derived from human hair in comparison with amniotic membrane (AM) and polystyrene.

Materials And Methods: The human corneal epithelial cell line (HCE-T) was expanded on KF, AM and commercially available 24-well polystyrene cell culture plates in vitro to compare cell proliferation, migration and attachment by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, scratch-wound healing and adhesion assay.

Periocular cutaneous oncocytoma with signs of disrupted oxygen metabolism.

Oncocytomas are benign tumors most often occurring in salivary or lacrimal glands and thyroid tissue. As cutaneous oncocytoma is exceptionally rare, this tumor is uncommonly encountered by dermatopathologists. Herein, we illustrate the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with a slowly growing papule of the lower eyelid.

Long-term course in type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia.

Introduction: To study the long-term course in patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia and report the effect of anti VEGF and laser treatment.

Methods: A retrospective case series of 19 patients/38 eyes with symptomatic type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia was performed. Six eyes received intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1-3 injections), four eyes received focal laser treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment of ocular chronic graft-versus-host disease: report from the German-Austrian-Swiss Consensus Conference on Clinical Practice in chronic GVHD.

Purpose: Ocular chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is one of the most frequent long-term complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and is often associated with significant morbidity and reduced quality of life.

Methods: The German/Austrian/Swiss Consensus Conference on Clinical Practice in cGVHD aimed to summarize the currently available evidence for diagnosis and (topical) treatment and to summarize different treatment modalities of ocular cGVHD. The presented consensus was based on a review of published evidence and a survey on the current clinical practice including transplant centers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Extracellular matrix elasticity modulates TGF-β-induced p38 activation and myofibroblast transdifferentiation in human tenon fibroblasts.

Purpose: Extracellular matrix and the cytokine TGF-β influence scar formation in an interdependent fashion. In this study, the impact of extracellular matrix elasticity on TGF-β-induced signal transduction and myofibroblast transdifferentiation was examined.

Methods: Primary human tenon fibroblasts were seeded on collagen-coated glass coverslips (rigid environment) or collagen or polyacrylamide gels (elastic environment) of different compliance and stimulated with TGF-β.

[Beyond TGF-beta: wound healing modulation in filtering glaucoma surgery].

Conjunctival scarring remains the major problem in filtering glaucoma surgery. Antimetabolites afford a reduction of scar formation, but considerable side effects limit their application. Here, we review the mechanisms and peculiarities of wound healing following glaucoma surgery and report on new developments in the field of wound healing modulation.

[Malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva].

Background: Malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva is a rare tumour. Early disease stages may be difficult to distinguish from benign lesions such as pigmented nevi or primary acquired melanosis. We describe the therapeutic procedure and histological findings in two patients and review the epidemiology and pathogenesis of malignant conjunctival melanoma.

Lovastatin inhibits TGF-beta-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation in human tenon fibroblasts.

Purpose: The transdifferentiation of Tenon fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is a pivotal step in filtering bleb scarring. It is mediated by the cytokine TGF-beta, Rho-dependent contractility, and cell-matrix interactions in an interdependent fashion. HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown to inhibit Rho-GTPase signaling; therefore, the authors studied the influence of lovastatin on TGF-beta-mediated myofibroblast transdifferentiation to assess the potential use of statins in wound healing modulation.

[Mucous membrane pemphigoid with ocular involvement. Part II: therapy].

Treatment of mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) aims at reduction of conjunctival inflammation by means of systemic immunosuppression. In addition, cicatricial progression and management of the resulting ocular surface disease requires topical conservative or surgical measures. The former includes systemic immunosuppression with steroids and other immunosuppressive agents: dapsone in mild to moderate disease and cyclophosphamide in severe cases have been established in two randomized trials.

[Mucous membrane pemphigoid with ocular involvement. Part I: Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and diagnosis].

Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a subepidermal blistering autoimmune disorder characterized by predominant involvement of mucous membranes and the presence of autoantibodies against proteins of the dermal-epidermal junction. Lesions most frequently develop in the oral cavity followed, in descending order of frequency, by conjunctiva, nasopharynx, the anogenital region, skin, larynx, and oesophagus. When the lesions are restricted to the conjunctiva, the term ocular pemphigoid may be applied.