Ocular microangiopathy in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, type I

Challenges in posterior uveitis-tips and tricks for the retina specialist

PURPOSE

Posterior uveitis is a common chorioretinal pathology affecting all ages worldwide and is a frequent reason for referral to the retina clinic. The spectrum of etiologies for uveitis is very broad and includes infectious and auto-immune diseases. Inflammation can be confined to the eye or may be a part of systemic disease. A useful outline is therefore proposed to aid in the correct diagnosis of these challenging entities. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many neoplastic conditions resemble features of posterior uveitis; they are known as "masqueraders of uveitis". Here, we summarize different posterior uveitides that present with rare findings, along with masqueraders that can be difficult to distinguish. These conditions pose a diagnostic dilemma resulting in delay in treatment because of diagnostic uncertainty.

METHODS

An extensive literature search was performed on the MEDLINE/PUBMED, EBSCO and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from January 1985 to January 2022 for original studies and reviews of predetermined diagnoses that include posterior uveitic entities, panuveitis and masquerade syndromes.

RESULTS

We described conditions that can present as mimickers of posterior uveitis (i.e., immune check-points inhibitors and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like uveitis; leukemia and lymphoma associated posterior uveitis), inflammatory conditions that present as mimickers of retinal diseases (i.e., Purtscher-like retinopathy as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus; central serous chorioretinopathy masquerading inflammatory exudative retinal detachment), and uveitic conditions with rare and diagnostically challenging etiologies (i.e., paradoxical inflammatory effects of anti-TNF-α; post vaccination uveitis; ocular inflammation after intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic drugs).

CONCLUSION

This review of unique posterior uveitis cases highlights the overlapping features of posterior uveitis (paradoxical inflammatory effects of anti -TNF α and uveitis; Purtscher-like retinopathy as a presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus, …) and the nature of retinal conditions (ischemic ocular syndrome, or central retinal vein occlusion, amyloidosis, inherited conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, autosomal dominant neovascular inflammatory vitreoretinopathy (ADNIV), etc.…) that may mimic them is represented. Careful review of past uveitis history, current medications and recent vaccinations, detailed examination of signs of past or present inflammation, eventually genetic testing and/ or multimodal retinal imaging (like fluorescein angiography, EDI-OCT, OCT-angiography for lupus Purtscher-like retinopathy evaluation, or ICG for central serous retinopathy, or retinal amyloid angiopathy) may aid in correct diagnosis.

Epidemiology of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in the northernmost region of Sweden: a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Epidemiological data on hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis from the northernmost region of Sweden (Norrbotten) are sparse.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of all incident cases of ATTRv amyloidosis in Norrbotten between 2006 and 2018. Official population and mortality statistics were used to estimate incidence rates and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs).

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients were diagnosed with ATTRv amyloidosis between 2006 and 2018 (median age, 72.8 years; 68.8% men; 95.7% Val30Met [p.Val50Met] mutation). The incidence rate per 100,000 persons and year increased from 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-2.47) cases in 2006-2009 to 4.92 (95%CI, 3.46-6.78) cases in 2016-2018. The SMR in the ATTRv amyloidosis cohort was 2.64 times higher than in the general population in 2006-2018 (95%CI, 1.78-3.77). However, there were indications of lower SMRs over time (2006-2012, 2.96 [95%CI, 1.73-4.74]; 2013-2018, 2.32 [95%CI, 1.23-3.96]) and by use of disease-modifying drugs (no, 3.21 [95%CI, 1.87-5.13]; yes, 2.09 [95%CI, 1.08-3.64]).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of ATTRv amyloidosis increased 3-fold in Norrbotten between 2006 and 2018, most likely due to a previous underdiagnosis - with suggestions of lowered mortality during later years, possibly due to the introduction of disease-modifying drugs.

Subclinical retinal angiopathy associated with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis - assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography

BACKGROUND

Retinal angiopathy is a known ocular manifestation of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is a recent noninvasive imaging technique, used in other retinal vascular diseases. Our purpose was to analyse subclinical changes in retinal vessels, with OCT-A, in patients with ATTRv amyloidosis.

METHODS

Observational cross-sectional study in Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto in the cohort of patients with genetic diagnosis of ATTRv. Patients were included if they had just one eye with scalloped iris (the other eye without scalloped iris), postulating eyes were at different stages, in the same patient. Patients were excluded if they had other manifestations of ocular ATTRv amyloidosis, namely clinical retinal angiopathy and/or vitreous opacities. The group of eyes with scalloped iris were compared with eyes without scalloped iris, using paired tests. Values are shown as Δ = mean difference between groups; p = p-value, d = Cohen's d for effect size measurement.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (24 eyes in each group) were included. Mean age was 46.5 ± 5.0 years. Eyes with scalloped iris showed attenuated retinal vascular network: larger foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area (Δ = +0.02 mm², p = 0.002, d = 0.70); decreased foveal vascular density (Δ = -3.57%, p = 0.001, d = -0.75); superficial (Δ = -1.50%, p = 0.049, d = -0.43) and deep (Δ = -2.53%, p = 0.023, d = -0.50) plexus vascular density. Acircularity index was superior in scalloped iris eyes (Δ = 0.04, p = 0.004, d = -0.65), representing an abnormal FAZ morphology.

CONCLUSION

Scalloped iris in ATTRv eyes are associated with a more advanced subclinical retinal angiopathy, than eyes without scalloped iris. Our results identify for the first time and in vivo, early changes in retinal vessels in ATTRv amyloidosis. Henceforward, OCT-A may play a role in the evaluation of ATTRv patients oculopathy and the effectiveness of future eye targeting treatments.

Conjunctival lymphangiectasia as a biomarker of severe systemic disease in Ser77Tyr hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between the ophthalmic and systemic phenotypes in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with the S77Y mutation (ATTRS77Y).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, patients with genetically confirmed ATTRS77Y amyloidosis were enrolled. All patients underwent complete neurological examination, including staging with the Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS), Polyneuropathy Disability (PND) score; complete cardiological evaluation, including echocardiography, cardiac MRI and/or cardiac scintigraphy and complete ophthalmic evaluation, including slit lamp examination and fundus examination. Ocular ancillary tests (fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography) were performed in cases with abnormal findings. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for quantitative outcomes and Fisher's exact test for qualitative outcomes. Statistical significance was indicated by p<0.05 (two tailed).

RESULTS

The study sample was composed of 24 ATTRS77Y patients. The mean patient age was 58.4±12.4 years. None of the patients presented with amyloid deposits in the anterior chamber, secondary glaucoma or vitreous amyloidosis. Retinal angiopathy was observed in four patients, complicated with retinal ischaemia in one patient. Conjunctival lymphangiectasia (CL) was detected in 13 patients (54%), associated with perilymphatic amyloid deposits. The presence of CL was statistically associated with more severe neurological disease (NIS=43.3±31.9 vs 18.9±20.4; PND=2.6±1.0 vs 1.4±0.7 in patients with and without CL, respectively; both p<0.05) and amyloid cardiomyopathy (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

In ATTRS77Y patients, CL is common and could serve as a potential biomarker for severe systemic disease. There were neither anterior chamber deposits, secondary glaucoma nor vitreous deposits in ATTRS77Y patients.

Transthyretin deposition in the eye in the era of effective therapy for hereditary ATTRV30M amyloidosis

BACKGROUND

Ocular abnormalities have been known to occur in hereditary amyloidotic polyneuropathy since the 1950s. While vitreous opacities and scalloped pupils were described early it has become evident that every component of the eye from the conjunctiva to the retinal vasculature can be involved. Reports from the major centres in Japan, Portugal and Sweden, which primarily treat patients with ATTRV30M, have indicated that with the increased longevity seen in patients treated with liver transplantation the frequency of the more severe eye findings, notably vitreous opacities and subsequent glaucoma, are being detected more frequently.

METHODS

In an attempt to confirm that the experience was similar in a broader range of locales we performed a survey of ten treatment centres in eight countries to determine the frequency of severe ocular abnormalities (vitreous opacities and glaucoma) in 804 patients with V30M disease and whether there was any relationship to treatment with liver transplantation or the transthyretin stabilizer tafamidis.

RESULTS

The data indicate that the frequency of these abnormalities increases with increasing duration of disease. In patients broadly matched for duration of disease the frequency was higher in subjects who had undergone liver transplantation than in those who were untreated.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrospective surveys are subject to a number of potential biases. In this case, the major potential confounders were defining the time of disease onset and physician bias in choice of therapy, particularly regarding the choice of patients and the time in their course when they should undergo liver transplantation, and when and whether they should receive tafamidis. Nonetheless it appears that the incidence of severe ocular abnormalities in V30M subjects from centres around the world is similar to those found in centres in the areas endemic for this variant protein. The incidence increased with duration of disease regardless of therapy with the highest frequencies seen in patients more than ten years after diagnosis who had undergone liver transplantation.

TRANSTHYRETIN V30M FAMILIAL AMYLOIDOSIS PRESENTING AS ISOLATED RETINAL ANGIOPATHY

PURPOSE

To describe a patient with confirmed transthyretin V30M form of familial amyloidosis who presented initially with isolated retinal angiopathy.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review.

RESULTS

A 66-year-old woman presented with bilateral retinal angiopathy. Extensive workup for an infectious, inflammatory, or hypercoagulable cause was unrevealing. The patient subsequently developed bilateral neovascularization of the optic nerve and iris complicated by recurrent vitreous hemorrhages, which were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab and panretinal photocoagulation. The development of cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms 5 years after presentation led to tissue biopsies that revealed both Congo red staining and apple-green birefringence in polarized light, confirming the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis. Sequencing of the transthyretin gene confirmed the patient to be heterozygous for the common amyloidogenic V30M mutation.

CONCLUSION

The common transthyretin V30M form of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy can rarely present with retinal angiopathy. Recurrent vitreous hemorrhages were treated successfully with intravitreal bevacizumab and panretinal photocoagulation.

Angiographic Signatures of the Predominant Form of Familial Transthyretin Amyloidosis (Val30Met Mutation)

PURPOSE

To describe abnormalities in choroidal and retinal vasculature associated with Val30Met familial transthyretin amyloidosis (V30M-FTA) using fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) angiography.

DESIGN

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study was conducted at the French National Reference Center for FTA. We included 18 consecutive genetically confirmed V30M-FTA patients (36 eyes) who underwent complete neurologic examination, including staging with polyneuropathy disability (PND) score, and complete ophthalmic evaluation, including staging of intraocular amyloid deposits and fluorescein and ICG angiograms (ICG-A). The grading of choroidal and retinal angiopathy, and their association with neurologic functional impairment, were the main outcome measures.

RESULTS

Eleven men and 7 women, mean age 61.6 ± 12.1 years, were included. Retinal amyloid angiopathy (RAA) was detected in 24 eyes (92%) of 13 patients, with microaneurysms, retinal hemorrhages, and retinal ischemia of variable extent. Three patients (5 eyes) had neovascular glaucoma and 2 (2 eyes) had preretinal neovascularization. ICG-A indicated choroidal amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in all patients, with 3 distinct patterns-diffuse (9/18 patients), focal (5/18 patients), or punctiform (4/18 patients)-based on the extent of late hypercyanescence along the choroidal arteries. PND scores were significantly higher in patients with diffuse CAA (firework pattern) compared to those with limited CAA (focal and punctiform patterns) (2.89 vs 1.78, P = .045).

CONCLUSION

RAA is a frequent and severe complication of V30M-FTA that may lead to anterior and posterior segment neovascularization. CAA was detected in all patients, with a late hypercyanescent delineation of the choroidal arterial vasculature, which was more extensive with increased disease severity.

Ophthalmological manifestations in hereditary transthyretin (ATTR V30M) carriers: a review of 513 cases

PURPOSE

Assessment of ocular involvement in transthyretin-related familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (FAP) in a large cohort of Portuguese patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 513 Portuguese FAP mutation carriers, at the Ophthalmology Service, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, between 1 January 2008 and 31 January 2013. Abnormal conjunctiva vessels (ACV), Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT), amyloid deposition on the iris (DAI), scalloped iris, amyloid deposition on the anterior capsule of the lens (DAL), vitreous amyloidosis, retinal amyloid angiopathy and glaucoma were evaluated and registered.

RESULTS

Of the 513 carriers, 477 (93%) had clinical systemic disease with a median duration of 9.3 (5.1-13.7) years and 247 were men. Of these, 343 (72%) had been liver transplanted, on median of 6.6 (3.3-10.8) years before inclusion in this study. No ocular abnormalities were identified in the asymptomatic carriers (7%). The abnormalities observed with decreasing frequency were abnormal TBUT (379 patients, 79.5%, 751 eyes), abnormal Schirmer test (320 patients, 67%, 635 eyes), DAI (183 patients, 38.4%, 350 eyes), DAL (157 patients, 32.9%, 308 eyes), scalloped iris (133 patients, 27.9%, 238 eyes), glaucoma (97 patients, 20%, 165 eyes), vitreous amyloidosis (83 patients, 17.4%, 139 eyes), ACV (68 patients, 14%, 136 eyes) and amyloidotic retinal angiopathy (21 patients, 4%, 32 eyes). Patients with abnormal Schirmer test (p < 0.001), scalloped iris (p = 0.006) and vitreous amyloidosis (p = 0.007) were significantly older than the others. According to their age of onset of systemic disease, the patients have been split into early-onset (<40 years old), intermediate-onset (40-50 years old), late onset (>50 years old) and asymptomatic carriers. We observed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of ACV (p = 0.045) and of an abnormal Schirmer test (p = 0.004) between groups. Transplanted patients have a significantly higher prevalence of DAI (p = 0.001), DAL (p = 0.009) and vitreous amyloidosis (p = 0.025) than non-transplanted patients. Of the 165 eyes with glaucoma, 92.1% had scalloped iris (p < 0.001) and of 32 eyes with retinal amyloidotic angiopathy, 68.8% had vitreous amyloidosis (p < 0.001). All prevalences increased with time of disease. The earliest ocular manifestations were abnormal Schirmer test and abnormal TBUT (12% and 17% at 5 years of clinical disease) and the least prevalent was retinal amyloid angiopathy (8% at 15 years of clinical disease).

CONCLUSION

Ocular disorders in FAP patients are common, and their prevalence increases with disease duration. Prevalence is influenced by several factors, such as the age at onset of FAP and liver transplantation.

Long-term outcomes and complications of trabeculectomy for secondary glaucoma in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy

Objective

Secondary glaucoma is a serious complication in patients with transthyretin (TTR)-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). We assessed the long-term outcomes and complications of trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) for secondary glaucoma associated with FAP.

Methods

Medical case records of Kumamoto University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-one eyes of 13 patients (10 with FAP ATTR Val30Met; 3 with FAP ATTR Tyr114Cys) underwent trabeculectomy with MMC and follow-up of at least 2 years. The primary outcome measure was Kaplan-Meier survival, with failure of this treatment being defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) of ≤5 mm Hg or ≥22 mm Hg on two consecutive visits or as additional operations needed to reduce IOP. Secondary outcome measures included complications, bleb characteristics, and additional postoperative interventions required.

Results

The mean postoperative follow-up period was 5.7 years (range, 2.2–12.7 years). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated probabilities of success of 0.76, 0.67, and 0.53 at 1, 2, and 3 years after operation, respectively. Significant complications included ocular decompression retinopathy in 7 eyes (33%) and bleb encapsulation in 10 eyes (48%). Twelve eyes (57%) needed additional surgery, such as bleb revision or trabeculectomy with MMC, to reduce IOP.

Conclusions

Trabeculectomy with MMC may not be optimal for patients with FAP-related glaucoma and may have several significant complications.

Vitreous Amyloidosis as the Presenting Symptom of Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy TTR Val30Met in a Portuguese Patient

Familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) is a group of disorders characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid substance in various tissues. The peripheral nervous system and the heart are the main target organs, but the eye may also be involved. We report a case of vitreous amyloidosis as the first manifestation of FAP in a 66-year-old Portuguese man without a family history.

The use of intravitreal ranibizumab to treat neovascular glaucoma because of retinal amyloid angiopathy in familial amyloidosis transthyretin v30m related

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study to report a patient with amyloidotic angiopathy and neovascular glaucoma who was treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab followed by laser photocoagulation.

METHODS

A 52-year-old liver-transplanted woman with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy presented with unilateral rubeosis iridis and neovascular glaucoma. A complete ocular examination and fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography were performed.

RESULTS

Best-corrected visual acuity before injection was 0.05 (Snellen) in the left eye, and intraocular pressure was 42 mmHg. Fluorescein angiography showed vascular occlusion in the retinal periphery, focal staining of vessels, and microaneurysms. Indocyanine green angiography showed hyperfluorescent spots alongside the choroidal veins. Two days after receiving intravitreal injection of ranibizumab, the clinical picture regressed. The diagnosis of retinal amyloid angiopathy was made, and a peripheral retinal laser photocoagulation was done. The final best-corrected visual acuity after 2 years of follow-up was 0.4 (Snellen) in the left eye.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal injections of ranibizumab should be evaluated for a potential role on the treatment of amyloid angiopathy neovascular glaucoma. Careful retinal periphery examination should be included in the ophthalmologic examination of all familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy patients.

Focus on autonomic dysfunction in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP)

It is well known that autonomic dysfunction in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is the most serious problem, because it restricts the daily life of these patients. The detail mechanisms of the onset are not well understood in FAP and domino liver transplantation-induced amyloid neuropathy. As autonomic disturbances play an important role in the symptomatology of FAP, further studies of autonomic dysfunction in these patients may lead the pathogenesis of FAP. Autonomic dysfunction is often observed before sensory and motor nerve dysfunction in FAP. This can be attributed to the morphological characteristics of the nerves. Unmyelinated, small myelinated, and large myelinated fibers tend to become impaired in that order. Although the reasons of susceptibility to amyloid infiltration and injury are not known, studies of autopsied FAP patients have revealed heavy infiltration of amyloid in autonomic ganglions. Moreover, spinal ganglion and posterior loot of the spine had severe amyloid deposits than did the anterior root of the spine or the motor nerves. It is well known that autonomic dysfunction is the most serious problem, because it restricts the daily life of FAP patients. However, we have four major questions about autonomic dysfunction in clinical. In this manuscript, we discuss about the answers of these questions.

Transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy-Progress in Kumamoto, Japan (1967-2010)-

The authors reviewed contribution of Kumamoto University group to the progress of the studies on transthyretin (TTR)-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (TTR-related FAP) for 42 years (from 1967 to 2009). Andrade (1952) first described a large group of patients with FAP in Portugal and Araki et al. (1967) in second discovered similar FAP patients in Arao, Kumamoto, Japan. Owing to progress in biochemical and molecular genetic analyses, FAP is now believed to occur worldwide. As of today, reports of about 100 different points of single or two mutations, or a deletion in the transthyretin (TTR) gene, have been published. The authors' group has made pioneer works for study of FAP in the world. The focus on therapy in amylodosis will increase sharply as an impetus in near future, and successful treatments are expected.

Vitreous opacities and outcome of vitreous surgery in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy

PURPOSE

To report the prevalence of vitreous opacities and the outcome of vitreous surgery in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP).

DESIGN

Observational case series.

METHODS

In 37 patients with FAP and the ATTR Val30 Met mutation, vitreous opacities were present in 14 eyes of 9 patients and vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation was performed in five eyes of three patients. In six patients with the ATTR Tyr114Cys mutation, vitreous opacities were present in both eyes of all six patients and vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation was performed in nine eyes of six patients. The mean follow-up period after vitreous surgery was 20.9 +/- 16.8 months (range, 3 to 52 months).

RESULTS

The prevalence of vitreous opacities is much higher in patients with ATTR Tyr114Cys (100%) than in those with ATTR Val30 Met (24%). The mean age at the onset of vitreous opacities was significantly lower in the patients with ATTR Tyr114Cys (37.0 +/- 5.3 years) than in the nine patients with ATTR Val30 Met (52.8 +/- 9.1 years; P <.005). Visual acuity improved in all 14 eyes after vitreous surgery; however, final visual acuity decreased in one eye owing to the occurrence of a central retinal vein occlusion. Vitreous opacities mildly increased in two eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the ATTR Val30 Met and ATTR Tyr114Cys mutations induce different clinical features of vitreous opacities. Vitreous surgery combined with phacoemulsification and implantation of an intraocular lens is a safe and useful treatment. Careful long-term follow-up should be performed.

Non-cancerous ophthalmic clues to non-ocular cancer

This survey reviews selected medical disorders in which the ophthalmologist has a unique opportunity of anticipating the existence of asymptomatic, life-threatening disease simply by recognizing that certain benign conditions involving the eye or adnexa represent clues to occult non-ocular cancer and other neoplasias. Having knowledge that these clues are associated with specific types of neoplasia, the ophthalmologist can then initiate a goal-directed oncologic investigation designed to identify the underlying neoplasm with the hope of providing potentially life-saving therapy. The survey is organized to feature each clue separately. The clinical characteristics of the clue are described and illustrated with color photographs when possible. A discussion reviews associated malignancies and other important medical features. The survey begins with clues expressed anteriorly in the lids, progressively reviewing those clues located more posteriorly, concluding with clues involving the retinal pigment epithelium and choroid.

Amyloid deposition in ocular tissues of patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP)

It is known that the severity of ocular symptoms does not always correlate with the systemic symptoms in patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP ATTR V30M). The ocular tissues may have their own TTR metabolic system. The aim of this study is to clarify the distribution of amyloid deposition in the ocular tissues and to investigate the relationship between ocular symptoms and histopathological changes. We analyzed histopathologically 9 autopsied eyes taken from 3 Japanese and 6 Swedish patients with FAP ATTR V30M. Localization of amyloid deposition varied among the different cases, but there were some tendencies in the distribution. The degree of amyloid deposition in the ocular tissues was not always correlated with the duration of the disease. The frequency of amyloid deposition in the conjunctiva, iris, trabecular meshwork and vitreous body were 88.9%, 44.4%, 11.1% and 11.1% respectively in the 9 patients. These frequencies in the histopathological changes correlated with the frequencies in the clinical ocular manifestations as previously reported.

Ocular amyloidosis and secondary glaucoma

OBJECTIVE

To report the clinical and histopathologic findings in two cases of secondary glaucoma associated with amyloidosis.

DESIGN

Two case reports.

METHODS

Retrospective review of clinical findings, course, and treatment of the two patients. The histopathologic findings from available biopsy material were also reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field changes, and surgical outcome.

RESULTS

The first case describes a 76-year-old woman with orbital amyloidosis who developed gradual unilateral elevation of IOP that was poorly responsive to medical therapy and underwent filtration surgery. Episcleral venous pressure was elevated on the affected side, and histopathologic analysis of the conjunctival tissue confirmed perivascular amyloid deposits, further suggesting raised episcleral venous pressure to be a possible mechanism of glaucoma. The second case describes a 47-year-old white woman with familial amyloid neuropathy with a transthyretin cys-114 mutation. The association of glaucoma with this mutation has not been described previously. Persisting elevation of IOP in one eye was initially responsive to topical antiglaucoma medications but eventually required filtration surgery. Amyloid particles were found in the aqueous and on the lens surface. Histopathologic analysis of the aqueous and sclerectomy specimens demonstrated amyloid, suggesting outflow obstruction as a possible mechanism of glaucoma. Conjunctival buttonholing complicated filtration surgery in both cases, and the leaks eventually resolved with good control of IOP.

CONCLUSIONS

Amyloid associated with glaucoma may involve different pathophysiologic mechanisms. The elevated IOP may not respond well to medical therapy. Cautious surgical manipulation of the conjunctiva is warranted in these cases.

Ocular manifestations of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy type I: long-term follow up

AIMS

To obtain precise information on ocular manifestations of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) type I, the incidence of five main ocular manifestations--abnormal conjunctival vessels (ACV), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), pupillary abnormality, vitreous opacity, and glaucoma, were compared through long term follow up.

METHODS

Ocular examinations were performed in 37 FAP type I patients (Met30) from once to 12 times over a period of 1 to 12 years and 7 months.

RESULTS

The following incidences were observed on initial examination of each patient with FAP: ACV in 75.5%, pupillary abnormalities in 43.2%, KCS in 40.5%, glaucoma in 5.4%, and vitreous opacity in 5.4%. All ocular manifestations increased with the progression of FAP, and the incidence of ACV reached 100% during follow up: this may be helpful in the diagnosis of FAP.

CONCLUSION

Since no precise statistical ocular study on FAP with long term follow up has been performed, this report may provide important information to help elucidate the mechanism of the amyloid distributing process in the amyloid targeted organs of FAP and to provide the natural course of ocular manifestations of FAP.

Ocular amyloidosis, with special reference to the hereditary forms with vitreous involvement

The complex of diseases referred to as amyloidosis is characterized by the deposition of amyloid substance in various tissues. The amyloid protein differs in the various forms of amyloidosis. This variation is the basis of the differences in affected tissues and subsequent clinical dissimilarities. Vitreous involvement in amyloidosis seems to be especially linked to some of the hereditary neuropathies associated with the amyloid protein transthyretin. Characterization of the amyloid proteins during recent decades has allowed a chemical and immunologic classification of amyloid fibrils. This paper presents the basis for classification of amyloidosis, reviews the literature on ocular amyloidosis, with special reference to vitreous involvement, and summarizes clinical findings and frequency of vitreous amyloid involvement in Swedish patients with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

A school refusal case with biological rhythm disturbance and melatonin therapy

An 18-year-old male high school student with school refusal and circadian rhythm disturbance is reported. At 17 years of age, he was unable to attend school because of a reversal of the daily rhythm and a moderate depressive feeling. Other circadian rhythms, including deep body temperature (DBT), and plasma melatonin, cortisol and beta-endorphin, also showed quite different or abnormal curves compared with those in normal controls. He was treated with methyl B12 and melatonin, which normalized the circadian rhythm, i.e. it became entrained to a 24-h period, and the DBT and hormonal rhythms became closer to normal patterns. These results suggest that desynchronization of the biorhythms, particularly the circadian rhythm, may be one of the important causes of school refusal in Japan, and melatonin and methyl B12 might be useful for treatment of the condition.