[Laser-tyndallometry in eyes with acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Erlanger Laser-tyndallometry study group].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN) is a rapidly progressive viral necrotic retinitis. We used noninvasive measurement of aqueous flare to quantify blood-ocular barrier breakdown in eyes with ARN und to follow the inflammatory activity and treatment effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We report on seven patients (5 males und 2 females, age: 16 to 57 years) with ARN that were treated in our institution between 1991 to 1996. Aqueous flare was quantified regularly during treatment using the laser flare-cell meter (Kowa, FC-1000) following pupillary dilation.

RESULTS:

Aqueous flare was highly significantly increased in eyes with ARN (145.5 +/- 139.7, range 30 to 367 photon counts/ms). Contralateral, unaffected eyes showed normal flare values (3.6 +/- 0.8 photon counts/ms, p < 0.0001; normals: 4.1 +/- 1.1 photon counts/ms). Flare values correlated with inflammatory activity before and during antiviral treatment. In two patients with ARN caused by herpes simplex-virus aqueous flare values were extremely increased (367 and 316 photon counts/ms), and retinal necrosis was rapidly progressive despite antiviral therapy. One patient developed early ARN in his contralateral eye with flare values increasing from 3.5 to 22.0 photon counts/ms, which quickly normalized following antiviral treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Measurement with the laser flare-cell meter allows quantification of blood-ocular barrier breakdown in eyes with ARN und may be useful for monitoring inflammatory activity during treatment.

• Authors: N X Nguyen, T Amann, M Küchle
• Journal: Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde (Klin Monbl Augenheilkd) Vol. 213 Issue 4 Pg. 197-200 (Oct 1998) ISSN: 0023-2165 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Laser-Tyndallometrie bei Augen mit akutem retinalen Nekrosesyndrom. Erlanger Arbeitsgruppe "Laser-Tyndallometrie.
• PMID: 9848063 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Blood-Aqueous Barrier
• Blood-Retinal Barrier
• Female
• Humans
• Lasers
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute (pathology, physiopathology, therapy)