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Biomedical subjects

J M Benitez-del-Castillo

Publications and source records attributed to J M Benitez-del-Castillo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Long-term treatment of refractory posterior uveitis with anti-TNFalpha (infliximab).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of infliximab as treatment for noninfectious posterior uveitis. METHODS: An open-label clinical trial including seven patients (12 eyes) with posterior uveitis refractory to conventional treatment regimens with corticosteroids and at least one immunosuppressive agent. Three intravenous doses of 5 mg/kg of infliximab were administered at weeks 0, 2, and 6. Infliximab infusion was repeated in patients undergoing a relapse of uveitis after initial remission. Improvement was defined as amelioration of visual acuity or disappearance of retinal exudates and/or haemorrhages, decreased macular oedema and/or vitreous opacities. All patients were followed up for at least 36 months. RESULTS: Six of the seven patients (five diagnosed with Behçet's disease and one diagnosed with sarcoidosis) showed a significant improvement after the first infliximab dose. Only in one patient diagnosed with chronic idiopathic multifocal choroiditis did the drug have no effect, and this patient was withdrawn from the study. At the end of follow-up, one eye had lost one line of vision and three eyes showed improved vision. All eyes had improved in terms of signs of inflammation. No adverse effects of treatment were observed. CONCLUSION: Infliximab is efficient and safe for the long-term management of refractory posterior uveitis, especially in patients with predominant retinal vasculitis and vitritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Selective vs argon laser trabeculoplasty: hypotensive efficacy, anterior chamber inflammation, and postoperative pain.

PURPOSE: To compare selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) with conventional argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in terms of hypotensive efficacy, anterior chamber inflammation, and pain reported by the patients treated. METHODS: A prospective study performed on 40 consecutive patients. Group I (n = 20): SLT 180 degrees. Group II (n = 20): ALT 180 degrees. Intraocular pressure, flare (Laser-Flare-Meter, Kowa FM-500, Japan), and pain (Visual Analogue Scale) were measured before treatment and 1 h, 24 h,1 week, and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Statistically significant differences were determined by an independent-sample Student's t-test. RESULTS: At 6 months after treatment, pressure reduction was similar in both groups: SLT 22.2% (range 0-36.3%) and ALT 19.5% (range 0-30.2%), P= 0.741. The energy released during treatment was significantly lower in SLT (48.3 SD 7.4 mJ) than in ALT (4321 SD 241.7 mJ), P < 0.001. At 1 h after treatment,anterior chamber flare was also lower in SLT(13.3 SD 6.3 vs 20.7 SD 7.4 photons/ms),P = 0.003. Pain reported by the patients during the treatment was significantly lower in SLT(2.0 SD 0.7 vs 4.3 SD 1.3), P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The hypotensive efficacy of both lasers at the end of follow-up was similar. The energy released during treatment and inflammation produced in the anterior chamber in the immediate postoperative period were significantly lower for SLT. The SLT procedure was better tolerated, producing less discomfort during treatment than conventional trabeculoplasty with argon.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Laser in situ keratomileusis enhancement after photorefractive keratectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the safety, effectiveness, and predictability of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for correcting residual myopia after primary photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). DESIGN: A retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: Thirty-six consecutive eyes of 30 patients underwent LASIK after primary PRK. A Multiscan Schwind excimer laser was used for LASIK enhancement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, refraction, videokeratography, and complications were determined before and after LASIK retreatment. Follow-up was at least 12 months. RESULTS: Before LASIK, 11.11% of eyes showed a UCVA of 20/40 or better. This increased to 94.44% 12 months after LASIK. A UCVA of 20/25 or better was achieved in 0% before and in 72.22% after retreatment. Refraction +/-0.5 diopters (spherical equivalent) represented 0% of eyes before and 77.78% of eyes after enhancement. Before LASIK, two eyes had significant haze. Haze remained in these two eyes and appeared in another eye. CONCLUSIONS: Laser in situ keratomileusis proved to be safe and effective for treating residual myopia after PRK. Care must be taken when considering LASIK retreatment in patients with significant haze after primary PRK.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Decrease in tear secretion and corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate tear secretion and corneal sensitivity after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia. METHODS: In a prospective study, 48 consecutive eyes (24 patients) underwent LASIK to correct myopia ranging from -3.5 to -12.25 diopters. Tear secretion tested by the tear function index and corneal sensitivity tested using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer were evaluated preoperatively and 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Tear secretion and corneal sensitivity after LASIK were reduced during the first 3 months after surgery (p<0.001). Tear secretion returned to its preoperative values only after 9 months. Tear secretion and corneal sensitivity were more depressed in long-term contact lens wearers preoperatively and 6 months after surgery (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In the correction of myopia, tear secretion was depressed after LASIK during the first 6 months after surgery.

Adult↗