Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Blepharitis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Staphylococcal infection and the limbus: study of the cell-mediated immune response.

The relationship between enhanced cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to staphylococcal antigens, expressed as delayed hypersensitivity (DH), and the development of catarrhal infiltrates at the limbus in the rabbit has been explored by others. This DH is required for infiltrates to develop in the rabbit cornea when it is exposed to conjunctival inoculation with live Staphylococcus aureus cells. Similar investigations have not been pursued in the human, although St. aureus has been isolated from lids of patients with sterile marginal ulcers. We have tested 69 patients with blepharitis, eleven with and 58 without associated symptomatic marginal keratitis, for DH to killed whole cells of St. aureus and St. epidermidis and protein A; quantitative cultures have also been collected from lids and conjunctivae. Preliminary findings show that nine out of 11 patients with symptomatic marginal keratitis, requiring treatment with steroids, have enhanced DH to St. aureus cell wall antigens. We suggest the hypothesis that this type of marginal keratitis in the human is the result of enhanced CMI at the limbus to St. aureus cell wall antigens.

Adult↗

The safety and efficacy of topical norfloxacin compared with chloramphenicol for the treatment of external ocular bacterial infections. The Norfloxacin-Chloramphenicol Ophthalmic Study Group.

Two hundred and forty-six patients with signs of acute bacterial conjunctivitis and/or blepharitis were randomised to receive either norfloxacin or chloramphenicol for one week in this double-masked parallel group study. Ninety-two per cent of the norfloxacin-treated patients and 93% of the chloramphenicol-treated patients were rated as either clinically improved or cured at the end of the treatment period. Based upon pre-treatment bacteriological cultures, 31.3% of the patients had significant bacterial infection of the lids and/or conjunctiva. All of these culture-positive patients were rated as either clinically improved or cured. Based upon post-treatment cultures, 72 of 82 strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were eradicated or suppressed following treatment with either norfloxacin or chloramphenicol. However six of 41 strains persisted for norfloxacin and four of 41 for chloramphenicol. Two norfloxacin-treated patients and three chloramphenicol-treated patients had adverse experiences, predominantly ocular discomfort, which required cessation of drug therapy. Norfloxacin appears to be an effective and relatively safe agent for the treatment of bacterial infections of the lids and/or conjunctiva. In this study, norfloxacin was clinically and microbiologically similar in activity to chloramphenicol.

Acute Disease↗

[Necrotizing pseudomonas infection of the eyelids and lacrimal ducts with orbital involvement in a newborn infant].

A newborn boy presented with severe, bilateral, necrotic blepharitis and dacryocystitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The possible etiology of this infection would be a transient neutropenia and a chemical blepharoconjunctivitis caused by Credé's prophylaxis. The relentless course of the necrosis could only be stopped by maximum-dose topical and systemic antibiotic therapy; the visual function of the right eye, however, was lost owing to a keratititis e lagophthalmo.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

An outbreak of herpes gladiatorum at a high-school wrestling camp.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been identified as a cause of cutaneous or ocular infection among athletes involved in contact sports; in this context it is known as herpes gladiatorum. In July 1989, we investigated an outbreak among 175 high-school wrestlers attending a four-week intensive-training camp. Cases of infection were identified by review of medical records, interview and examination of the wrestlers, and culture of skin lesions. Oropharyngeal swabs were obtained for HSV-1 culture, and serum samples for HSV-1 serologic studies. HSV-1 isolates were compared by restriction-endonuclease analysis. RESULTS: HSV-1 infection was diagnosed in 60 wrestlers (34 percent). The lesions were on the head in 73 percent of the wrestlers, the extremities in 42 percent, and the trunk in 28 percent. HSV-1 was isolated from 21 wrestlers (35 percent), and in 39 (65 percent) infection was identified by clinical criteria. Five had conjunctivitis or blepharitis; none had keratitis. Constitutional symptoms were common, including fever (25 percent), chills (27 percent), sore throat (40 percent), and headache (22 percent). The attack rate varied significantly among the three practice groups, ranging from 25 percent for practice group 1 (lightweights) to 67 percent for group 3 (heavyweights). Restriction-endonuclease analysis identified four strains of HSV-1 among the 21 isolates. All 10 isolates from practice group 3 were identical (strain A), and 5 of 7 isolates from practice group 2 (middleweights) were identical (strain B), which suggested concurrent transmission of different strains within different groups. HSV-1 was not isolated from any oropharyngeal swabs. CONCLUSIONS: Herpes gladiatorum may cause substantial morbidity among wrestlers, and it is primarily transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact. Prompt identification and exclusion of wrestlers with skin lesions may reduce transmission.

Adolescent↗

Oral erythromycin treatment for childhood blepharokeratitis.

Blepharokeratitis is a chronic external ocular and adnexal inflammatory condition marked by erythematous and edematous lid margins, lid margin crusting and scaling, meibomian gland inflammation and inspissation, and conjunctival hyperemia. The associated keratitis usually involves the inferior cornea and is characterized by punctate epithelial keratopathy and marginal stromal infiltrates. The inflammation sometimes leads to corneal thinning, scarring, and vascularization. The standard therapy for adult blepharokeratitis includes lid hygiene, topical cortico-steroid preparations, and topical antibiotics. Oral tetracycline and its analogues, doxycycline and minocycline, are used in adults to treat associated meibomian gland dysfunction. Whereas blepharitis is common in children, blepharokeratitis is rare and is often associated with severe ocular and psychosocial morbidity. Treatment of youths may be problematic because of poor compliance with lid hygiene and therapy that includes drops and ointment.(1) Furthermore, the use of tetracycline and its analogues is contraindicated in children aged less than 8 years because it may cause dental enamel abnormalities. Isolated case reports have suggested that erythromycin may be a reasonable alternative to tetracycline in childhood blepharokeratitis.(2,3) We report on the successful treatment of this condition with oral erythromycin in 5 children.

Administration, Oral↗

Polar lipids in human meibomian gland secretions.

PURPOSE: To determine the polar lipid composition of human meibomian gland secretions and their relationship to the preocular tear film. METHODS: Meibomian secretions were collected from normals and patients with chronic blepharitis. These lipids (meibum) were first separated by thin layer chromatography. Polar lipids were then separated utilizing high-pressure liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Individual peaks were identified by comparison with standards. Collected sample peaks were subjected to differential transmethylation with sodium methoxide-methanol and the resulting fatty acid methyl esters were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. RESULTS: Three phospholipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin; other unidentified phospholipids were also present. Also present in secretions were the sphingolipids ceramides and cerebrosides. Fatty acids present were 12-18 carbon chain length. All fatty acids were normal (not branched) saturated fatty acids except in sphingolipids, where hydroxy fatty acids were also present. Unsaturated normal fatty acids were present only in meibum from patients with meibomianitis. CONCLUSIONS: The composition of the polar lipids in meibomian gland secretions is more complex than previously thought. On the other hand, the type and carbon chain length of the polar lipid fatty acids appears strictly controlled. The relationship of these findings to the preocular tear film should be considered in terms of overall functionality. The polar lipid layer most likely is only one to three molecules thick and serves as a surfactant between aqueous tears and the thicker nonpolar lipid layer.

Blepharitis↗

Meibomian gland morphology and tear osmolarity: changes with Accutane therapy.

We evaluated the meibomian gland function of 11 patients before and during treatment with isotretinoin (Accutane) by assessing tear osmolarity, meibomian gland morphology, tear production, rose bengal staining, and meibomian gland excreta. We found, during Accutane use, that meibomian glands appeared significantly less dense and atrophic by meibography. Excreta thickness increased from 1.7 +/- 0.9 to 3.1 +/- 1.2 (p less than 0.005), and expressible excreta volume decreased from 1.52 +/- 0.68 to 1.10 +/- 0.3 (p less than 0.05) (scale 1-4). We also found a significant increase in tear osmolarity from 304.9 +/- 11 to 316.3 +/- 10 mosmol/L (p less than 0.005). There was no significant change in the Schirmer test during treatment. We suggest that the clinical symptoms of blepharitis during Accutane therapy are related to decreased meibomian gland function and consequent increased tear evaporation and tear osmolarity.

Acne Vulgaris↗

The herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase is required for ocular virulence.

We used a herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 ribonucleotide reductase (RR) null mutant (ICP6 delta) to study the role of HSV-1 RR in ocular HSV infections. We found that ICP6 delta was unable to induce vascularization of the cornea or stromal keratitis following inoculation into the cornea of BALB/c mice, but was able to induce a transient mild blepharitis. The parental strain (HSV-1 KOS) and a revertant of ICP6 delta, ICP6 delta+3.1, both caused severe ocular disease, indicating that HSV-1 RR is required for ocular virulence in mice. ICP6 delta grew poorly in vitro (Vero and BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts) and in vivo (eye, trigeminal ganglia and brain) compared to ICP6 delta+3.1 and HSV-1 KOS, suggesting that the avirulence of ICP6 delta is due to poor growth in the host. ICP6 delta also grew less well in primary human corneal fibroblasts, suggesting that RR may be required for virulence in humans. These results indicate that drugs inhibiting the function of RR might be effective in treating ocular HSV infections.

Animals↗

Primary herpes simplex virus type 1 infection of the eye triggers similar immune responses in the cornea and the skin of the eyelids.

Herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK) and blepharoconjunctivitis in humans are thought partly to result from immunopathological responses to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The corneas of NIH mice were inoculated with HSV-1 (strain McKrae) and mice were examined for signs of disease and infection on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21. The eyes and eyelids of infected and control mice were processed for immunohistochemistry and double stained for viral antigens and one of the following cell surface markers (Gr-1, F4/80, CD4, CD8, CD45R or MHC class II) or one of the following cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 or IFN-gamma). All infected mice developed signs of HSK by day 4 and blepharitis by day 7 and these both persisted until day 21, when signs of resolution where apparent. Virus was detected during the first week of infection and became undetectable by day 10. Large numbers of Gr-1(+) cells (neutrophils) infiltrated infected corneas and eyelids in areas of viral antigen and CD4(+) T cells increased significantly in number after virus clearance. In both sites, the predominant cytokines were IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-gamma, with few IL-2(+) and IL-4(+) cells. These observations suggest that the immune responses in the cornea are similar to those in the eyelids but, overall, the responses are not clearly characterized as either Th1 or Th2. In both sites, the neutrophil is the predominant infiltrating cell type and is a likely source of the cytokines observed and a major effector of the disease process.

Animals↗

Lipolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus from different sources.

The lipolytic activity for a number of triglycerides, oils, and Tween 80 of 50 Staphylococcus aureus strains from the margin of the eyelids in patients with chronic blepharitis was found to be significantly greater than that of 80 S. aureus strains from the upper respiratory tract.

Blepharitis↗

Lichen planus and Sjögren-type sicca syndrome in a patient with chronic hepatitis C.

We report a 54-year-old Japanese male with lichen planus and Sjögren-type sicca syndrome, accompanied by the latent complication of chronic hepatitis C. The patient first showed erythematous and erosive lesions with white irregular striae in the buccal mucous membrane, and blepharitis and hyperemia of conjunctiva in his eyes. He later had two small erosions on the glans penis, and flat-topped violaceous papules on the dorsa manus and nape. A biopsy specimen of the lower lip lesion demonstrated a lichenoid tissue reaction at the basement membrane zone, and lymphocytic focal accumulations in the salivary glands. Immunohistochemical study of this specimen revealed CD45RO- (T) cells associated with the expression of HLA-DR antigens predominantly in both the lichenoid tissue reaction and the lymphocytic sialadenitis. Objective keratoconjunctivitis sicca was confirmed by the Schirmer and Rose-Bengal tests. Anti-DNA antibody was positive; however anti-SS-A, and anti-SS-B antibodies were negative. Increased levels of transaminase enzymes, TTT, ZTT, and IgG were observed in first laboratory examinations; thereafter, antihepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and HCV-RNA were detected. The high serum amylase level, in which salivary amylase predominated, was normalized by etretinate therapy in parallel with the clinical improvement of the oral LP lesions. Our case is considered to support the hypothesis that an etiologic association may be present among lichen planus, Sjögren's syndrome, and chronic hepatitis C.

Amylases↗

Glaucoma from topical corticosteroids to the eyelids.

Raised intraocular pressure and glaucoma have rarely been associated with use of periorbital corticosteroids for dermatological conditions such as blepharitis and eczema. Three cases are described in which periorbital topical corticosteroids appear to have resulted in raised intraocular pressure or glaucoma. Topical corticosteroids used for dermatological conditions around the face and eyes are often regarded as being fairly innocuous with regard to ocular side-effects. This case series demonstrates that secondary open-angle glaucoma can be a sight-threatening consequence, and periorbital steroids should therefore be used cautiously and sparingly, particularly in those with a family history of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure may not always return to normal upon cessation of the drug.

Adult↗

Ophthalmologic oncology: alopecia of the eyelashes.

The variety of lesions that can cause alopecia of the eyelashes (Table 1) demonstrates the need for accurate diagnosis. A full-thickness biopsy of lid margin with appropriate three-suture closure can leave an imperceptible defect and may provide invaluable information. Although a partial-thickness lid biopsy is certainly appropriate for many common eyelid tumors such as basal-cell carcinomas or nevi, we feel strongly that a full-thickness lid biopsy is indicated when discussing chronic eyelid lesions that cause alopecia. The information gathered from a full-thickness biopsy is far superior especially in those lesions which cause chronic blepharitis or especially in a case of a recurrent chalazion where the conjunctival surface and skin surface are both equally significant. The high mortality associated with sebaceous-cell carcinomas makes a good pathologic specimen allowing for accurate diagnosis essential. Partial-thickness eyelid biopsies, especially in cases of sebaceous carcinoma, may lead the pathologist to an erroneous, more benign, diagnosis and the clinician to a false sense of security. While many of the nonscarring alopecias may be diagnosed on their clinical characteristics alone, the scarring alopecias will frequently need a lid biopsy to ascertain diagnosis and gauge treatment.

Alopecia↗

Ocular side effects associated with 13-cis-retinoic acid therapy for acne vulgaris: clinical features, alterations of tearfilm and conjunctival flora.

Isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is commonly used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. We included 55 patients in this prospective study, and inspected them before, while and after therapy with isotretinoin regarding ocular side effects. Careful slit-lamp inspection, measurement of break-up-time and Schirmer-test and microbiological investigations of the conjunctival flora were performed. While staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the conjunctival sac before application of isotretinoin in 7.3%, this percentage increased to 61.8% during therapy. A pathological decrease of break-up-time was realized in 69.1% of the cases, the development of blepharitis in 40%. But in spite of the alteration of conjunctival flora, bacterial conjunctivitis developed in just 7.3% of the cases. However, only 34.5% of the patients showed symptoms of a conjunctivitis sicca, in spite of the impressive diminution of break-up-time in so many cases. All ocular side effects of isotretinoin were treatable and disappeared completely within 1 month after stopping therapy.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Clinical status, ocular surface changes and tear ferning in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Twenty-three cystic fibrosis patients and 20 controls were examined for ocular surface changes and tear fluid ferning characteristics. The patients were also evaluated systemically and given numerical scores according to Schwachman's scoring system. Frequency of blepharitis, fluorescein staining, and the Schirmer's test values did not differ between patients and controls. Patients with cystic fibrosis had a higher frequency of altered ferning pattern that corresponded to the disease severity as measured by the Schwachman score (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). Although altered ferning pattern was frequent, the rate of type I ferning was also high (30%) in patients with cystic fibrosis. We conclude that the ferning test should not be used as an aid in diagnosis of cystic fibrosis but it may be used as an indicator of clinical status during follow-up.

Adolescent↗