Ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from COVID-19 in Mexico

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation.

RESULTS

A total of 3,081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95 ± 15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p = 0.665).

CONCLUSIONS

The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Endourological application of polydimetilsiloxane in patients with symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux in the kidney graft

OBJECTIVE

To identify the results of polydimethylsiloxane application in the endourological management of symptomatic vesicoureteral reflux to the kidney graft and to determine the factors associated with persistent symptoms and with vesicoureteral reflux.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We included 23 patients diagnosed with symptomatic VUR in kidney graft, evaluated from January 2010 to August 2018 in the High Specialty Medical Unit # 14 in Veracruz. These patients received endourological application of polydimethylsiloxane. The descriptive analysis was carried out, and, if possible, the relative risk measures for clinical failure (CF) were determined with odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS

18 (78.3%) patients presented clinical success (CS). There was a significant difference in the mean age (CS 30.61±9.7, CF 46.0±11.46; U Mann Whitney, P=.037), and in the number of episodes of AGPN prior to the application of PDMS (CS 2.27±1.27, CF 3.6±0.89, U Mann Whitney, P=.019). The most frequently identified pathogen was E. Coli, with 45.4%. VUR resolution was observed in 47.8% of the cases. There was a decreased degree of VUR in 73.9% of cases. A lower degree of VUR was determined as a protective factor for CF (OR: 0.031, 95% CI: 0.002-0.437, with P=.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The endourological application of PDMS proved to be useful in the management of patients with symptomatic VUR in kidney graft, as it decreased the VUR degree and allowed CS in most cases.