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Biomedical subjects

A Karma

Publications and source records attributed to A Karma.

90 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Gallium67 citrate scanning in patients with lacrimal gland and conjunctival sarcoidosis. A report on three cases.

Gallium citrate Ga67 scanning of the head and thorax of 3 patients with sarcoidosis is presented. Two patients had a progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis of recent onset and in one patient, with a chronic course of the disease, the lung changes had resolved. All 3 patients had a conjunctival sarcoid change confirmed by biopsy and a lacrimal gland affection suggested by clinical examination. A highly increased Ga67 uptake in the lacrimal and parotid glands as well as in the nasopharynx was found in all patients, and an increased lung uptake was found in the newly detected cases. It is concluded that gallium scanning is a sensitive method for detecting minute ophthalmic changes in sarcoidosis. It also reveals chronic localized ocular affection in cases in which the lung changes are no longer detectable. The mechanism and specificity of gallium uptake in sarcoidosis is also discussed.

Adult↗

Fluorescein iris angiography in nodular sarcoid iritis.

The value of fluorescein iris angiography in the diagnosis and follow-up of nodular sarcoid iritis was studied in five patients with nodular iritis and histologically verified generalized sarcoidosis. On the angiograms the sarcoid nodules appeared as hyperfluorescent patches which always exceeded the number of nodules seen by biomicroscopy. Fresh iris nodules were characterized by mild diffuse fluorescence and dilatation and leakage of the adjacent vessels whereas old granulomas were covered by tortuous neovascular vessels which in the active stage of the disease leaked fluorescein profusely. After recovery or between recurrent attacks the amount of leakage decreased or stopped although the neovascular network did not disappear. At recurrences new areas of fluorescence due to fresh nodules were observed in addition to intense leakage from some of the previous lesions. Most of the small nodules were situated in the pupillary part of the iris resulting in dilatation and abnormal permeability of all the peripupillary vessels. The weakness of absence or diffuse leakage from the radial vessels of the iris agrees with the proliferative nature of sarcoid nodular iritis and explains the low-grade symptoms of the patients.

Adult↗

The significance of serum anti-Borrelia antibodies in the diagnostic work-up of uveitis.

PURPOSE: To assess the utility of testing uveitis patients for anti-Borrelia antibodies in an area endemic for Lyme borreliosis. METHODS: We examined 161 uveitis patients for serum antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by Lyme ELISA. Antibodies were determined in patients with uveitis of unknown etiology and non-selectively from patients with an established diagnosis. RESULTS: Concentrations of antibodies to B. burgdorferi were elevated in 26 uveitis patients (16.1%), with elevated IgG in 11 of them (6.8%). In four of these patients Lyme borreliosis was a highly suggestive cause of uveitis because of a history of tick bites, systemic symptoms, response to antibiotic therapy, and/or a positive polymerase chain reaction result. Other causes of uveitis were ruled out. All these patients had vitritis. CONCLUSIONS: Non-selective testing of uveitis patients for Lyme antibodies is not reasonable even in endemic areas. We recommend using the Borrelia antibody test only in cases of uveitis of unknown cause, especially in patients with vitritis or other symptoms of Lyme borreliosis.

Adolescent↗

A population-based study on uveitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the occurrence and characteristics of uveitis in a population-based survey of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). METHODS: The subjects in this study were entitled, under the nationwide sickness insurance scheme, to receive specially reimbursed medication for JRA in 5 of the 21 central hospital districts in Finland (population base about 270,000 children < 16 years of age) in 1980, 1985 and 1990. RESULTS: A total of 114 incident cases (34 boys and 80 girls) satisfied the criteria for JRA. Uveitis was diagnosed in 18 of these patients (16%). The mean age of uveitis patients at the diagnosis of JRA was 6.8 years (median 5.4 years) and the mean interval from the diagnosis of JRA to the detection of uveitis was 2.9 years. Silent (asymptomatic) anterior uveitis was found in 4 boys and 11 girls and acute anterior uveitis in 2 boys. One girl had marginal corneal ulceration with mild anterior uveitis. Uveitis was chronic (> 6 months) in 9 cases. Uveal inflammation was most severe in the 3 children whose uveitis was detected at the time of the diagnosis of JRA. CONCLUSION: The study provides population-based information on the occurrence and characteristics of uveitis associated with JRA.

Acute Disease↗