Composition and diversity analysis of the TCR CDR3 repertoire in patients with idiopathic orbital inflammation using high-throughput sequencing

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) is a nonspecific orbital inflammatory disease with the third highest prevalence among orbital diseases, and its pathogenesis is associated with T-cell-mediated immune responses. This study aimed to investigate the differences in T-cell receptor (TCR) expression between IOI patients and healthy subjects by high-throughput sequencing and to characterize TCR expression in patients with IOI and with respect to glucocorticoid response.

METHODS

A total of 19 subjects were enrolled in this study and were divided into the idiopathic orbital inflammation group (IOI group, n = 13) and the healthy control group (HC group, n = 6), and within the IOI group were further divided into the glucocorticoid therapy sensitive group (IOI(EF) group, n = 6) and the glucocorticoid therapy ineffective group (IOI(IN) group, n = 7) based on the degree of effectiveness to glucocorticoid therapy. High-throughput TCR sequencing was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells of IOI patients and healthy control individuals using 5' RACE technology combined with Unique Identifier (UID) digital tag correction technology. The TCR CDR3 region diversity, sharing patterns, and differential sequences between the IOI and HC groups, and between the IOI(EF) and IOI(IN) groups were analyzed.

RESULTS

It was found that the diversity of TCR CDR3 in the IOI group was significantly lower than that in the HC group, and the frequency of V gene use was significantly different between groups. The diversity of TCR CDR3 in patients in the IOI(EF) group was significantly lower than that in patients in the IOI(IN) group, and the frequency of V and J gene use was significantly different between the IOI(EF) group and the IOI(IN) group. Additionally, we found 133 nucleotide sequences shared in all IOI samples and screened two sequences with higher expression from them.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that abnormal clonal expansion of specific T-cells exists in IOI patients and that TCR diversity may had an impact on the prognosis of glucocorticoid-treated IOI. This study may contribute to a better understanding of the immune status of IOI and provide new insights for T-cell -associated IOI pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment prediction.

Limited granulomatosis with polyangiitis in children with idiopathic orbital inflammation: a case series and literature review

Idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) is a diagnosis of exclusion, but the exclusion of other inflammatory diseases of the orbit is broad and relies on clinician experience, response to corticosteroid, or biopsy. This study aimed to investigate the presence of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in patients initially diagnosed as IOI and describe its clinicopathological features, ANCA status, treatment, and outcome. We performed a retrospective case series study of children diagnosed with limited GPA (L-GPA) in patients with IOI. A systematic review of the literature was performed in children with GPA and orbital mass. Eleven of 13 (85%) patients with IOI had L-GPA. Two additional patients with orbital mass and L-GPA were included in this analysis. The median age was 10 years, and 75% were female. Twelve cases were ANCA positive and 77% were MPO-pANCA positive. Most patients had a poor response to treatment and had a high relapse rate. Based on literature review, 28 cases were found. Most (78.6%) were female with a median age of 9 years. Three patients were misdiagnosed as IOI. Patients with L-GPA more frequently had MPO-pANCA positivity (35%) than children with systemic GPA (18%) and were less often PR3-cANCA positive than patients with systemic GPA (18% vs. 46%). L-GPA accounts for a high prevalence of children diagnosed as IOI. The high prevalence of MPO-pANCA observed in our study may be related to L-GPA rather than with the orbital mass. Long-term follow-up, orbital biopsy, and serial ANCA testing are necessary to exclude GPA in patients with IOI.

Imaging of Painful Ophthalmologic Disorders

Cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography (CT) and MRI are diagnostic examinations useful in the diagnosis of painful ophthalmologic disorders and their potential complications. CT is a first-line imaging study for suspected orbital infections, particularly useful in differentiating preseptal cellulitis and orbital cellulitis and detecting complications such as orbital abscess. When compared with CT, MRI is better for orbital soft tissue evaluation, particularly useful for optic neuritis, ocular diseases such as endophthalmitis, and invasive fungal rhinosinusitis with orbital involvement. CT angiography is the preferred noninvasive imaging modality for the detection and classification of carotid cavernous fistula.

Idiopathic Orbital Myositis Revisited

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review current knowledge regarding idiopathic orbital myositis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent publications have focused on possible causes of orbital myositis and the process to reach a diagnosis of idiopathic orbital myositis. With inflamed and enlarged extraocular muscles, features to distinguish between competing diagnostic possibilities are based on imaging in the context of history and clinical signs. Idiopathic orbital myositis is characterized by the clinical triad of acute onset of orbital pain exacerbated on eye movement, double vision, and redness or swelling of the eyelids or conjunctiva, along with the radiological finding of homogeneous, fusiform enlargement of one or more extraocular muscles. In atypical or inconclusive clinico-radiological findings for a diagnosis of idiopathic orbital myositis, or where the clinical behavior changes or fails to respond to corticosteroid treatment, a systemic and oncologic work-up and muscle biopsy are warranted to exclude specific local or systemic disease as cause of the inflamed and enlarged muscle. As our understanding of idiopathic orbital myositis evolves, the diagnostic focus is shifting toward earlier identification of underlying local or systemic disease through systemic work-up and muscle biopsy.

IgG4-related disease in patients with idiopathic orbital inflammation

Background

To identify the prevalence of positive IgG4 immunostaining in orbital tissue among patients previously diagnosed with nongranulomatous idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) and to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with and without IgG4-positive cells.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of IOI was performed. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to identify IgG-positive cells and IgG4-positive cells. Multivariate analysis was performed using likelihood ratio-test logistic regression on the differences between IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and non-IgG4-RD.

Results

Of the 45 patients included, 21 patients (46.7%) had IgG4-positive cells, with 52.4% being male and a mean age of 55.9 ± 13.4 years. Bilateral ocular adnexal involvement (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 9.45; P = 0.016) and infraorbital nerve enlargement (aOR = 12.11; P = 0.008) were frequently found in IgG4-RD patients. Complete remission occurred in 23.8% of IgG4-RD patients and 41.7% of non-IgG4-RD patients. IgG4-RD patients had more frequent recurrent disease than non-IgG4-RD patients.

Conclusions

Nearly 50% of IgG4-RD patients were previously diagnosed with biopsy-proven IOI. IgG4-RD was more frequent in patients with bilateral disease and infraorbital nerve enlargement, showing the importance of tissue biopsy in these patients. Immunohistochemistry studies of all histopathology slides showing nongranulomatous IOI are highly recommended to evaluate for IgG4-RD.

[Idiopathic orbital inflammation]

BACKGROUND

Orbital inflammatory disease encompasses a spectrum of disorders. Idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) is often a diagnosis of exclusion, which needs to be differentiated from infections, systemic inflammatory disease, and neoplasms. IOI includes anterior inflammation with dacryoadenitis, myositis, perineuritis of the optic nerve, periscleritis, diffuse sclerosing inflammation, and orbital apex inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

A differential diagnostic overview of IOI is presented, including its subcategories, diagnosis, and treatment.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of IOI is often made by exclusion with typical clinical findings, CT and MRI scans, and pathology. Treatment includes corticosteroids, immunomodulators, immunosuppressants, and radiotherapy.

[IgG4-related disease]

BACKGROUND

The IgG4-related systemic disease as well as the homonymous variant IgG4-related orbital disease were first described less than 15 years ago. The mostly subacute clinical symptoms can be multifarious and the classical case is characterized by an orbital inflammatory condition with a bilateral enlargement of the lacrimal glands; however, any other orbital tissue with the exception of the eyeball can be affected by the lymphocytic inflammatory infiltration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Based on the current literature the clinical picture, epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment options are described. A focus is on the differential diagnostic demarcation from other inflammatory processes of the orbit.

CONCLUSION

The IgG4-related orbital disease is an important differential diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the orbit. The condition can exhibit considerable clinical and imaging similarity to idiopathic inflammation of the orbit, to the specific inflammations seen in systemic diseases, to Graves' orbitopathy and to lymphoproliferative diseases and lymphoma. After histopathologic confirmation the interdisciplinary clarification and treatment consensus are indispensable.

Tocilizumab in a Case of Refractory Idiopathic Orbital Inflammation: 6-Year Follow-Up Outcomes

Idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) is a noninfectious inflammatory disease whose etiology remains unknown. Treatment is focused on reducing inflammation, which becomes challenging in nonresponding cases. We report the case of a 59-year-old woman with refractory IOI that showed a positive response to tocilizumab therapy. The patient was diagnosed with a unilateral sclerosing IOI for 9 years and showed a negative control with previous oral steroids, peribulbar steroid injections, radiotherapy, immunosuppressors, and intravenous rituximab. After the initiation of 8 mg/kg intravenous tocilizumab, a complete reduction of the pain and the orbital inflammation signs was observed and her condition remained stable for the following 6 years under a monthly dose of 4 mg/kg. In recalcitrant IOI cases, tocilizumab could be considered a possible treatment to reduce inflammatory signs and symptoms with positive long-term outcomes as in our case.

Orbital diseases mimicking graves' orbitopathy: a long-standing challenge in differential diagnosis

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is the most common cause of orbital tissue inflammation, accounting for ~ 60% of all orbital inflammatory conditions in the population aged 21-60 years, and for ~ 40% in the population aged > 60 year. GO is observed in 25-30% of patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism and more rarely in association with hypothyroid autoimmune thyroiditis. In addition, a small proportion of GO patients (1-2%) do not have a clinically overt thyroid dysfunction. Clinically, GO is characterized by proptosis, inflammation involving the eyelids and the conjunctiva, extraocular muscle hypertrophy, with consequent reduction of ocular motility and diplopia, and in the most severe cases, compression of the optic nerves at the orbital apex, with reduction of visual acuity. At CT scan or MRI, a muscle increase involving the superior, medial and inferior rectus is quite typical. In the most severe forms, compression of the optic nerves at the orbital apex can be observed. Euthyroid GO is usually an early sign of a full-blown Graves' disease; however, in some cases, the orbital disease can remain isolated. Moreover, euthyroid GO can rarely be unilateral, which makes the picture even more confusing. Under those circumstances, the diagnostic process becomes obviously quite difficult, having other conditions mimicking GO been excluded. A number of inflammatory conditions affecting orbital tissue can mimic GO, thereby requiring an accurate evaluation for a proper differential diagnosis. The majority of these conditions are immune mediated. Most of them are benign, but they can be rather aggressive and some can cause visual loss. The most common inflammatory condition affecting orbital tissues and mimicking GO is idiopathic orbital inflammation. Other, more rare, orbital diseases that should be considered in the differential diagnosis are infections, orbital manifestations of systemic diseases, primitive and secondary orbital neoplasms, and orbital vascular alterations. In most instances, when an orbitopathy occurs in the absence of hyperthyroidism, the diagnosis of the disease underlying the ocular symptoms and signs is based on exclusion of the other conditions. Here we review the conditions that can mimic GO and how to distinguish them from this obnoxious eye disease.

Orbital pseudotumor as the presenting symptom of Crohn's disease in a male child

Purpose

This report will describe a case of orbital pseudotumor that is associated with underlying Crohn's disease in a pediatric patient.

Observations

An 8-year-old male with a past medical history of chronic constipation who presented to the ophthalmologist in July 2017 with a 7-month history double vision, left upper lid ptosis, left abducens nerve palsy, and an abnormal thyroid test. The patient's family history was negative for any autoimmune disease including, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus or inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnosis of orbital pseudotumor of the left eye was made based on CT scan findings and he was then treated with a one-week course of oral prednisone. After resolution of his initial symptoms, he presented a month later with swelling in his left eye and was treated with a 6-month steroid taper with resolution of symptoms. In June 2018, the patient presented with swelling in his right eye and was treated with prednisone plus steroid sparing agents. Extraocular muscle biopsy was negative for IgG4 related disease, fungal infection, or malignant lymphoma and workup for sarcoidosis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis was unremarkable. In September 2018, the patient presented with bloody stools, diagnosed and treated for a perirectal abscess. Subsequent colonoscopy performed in January 2019 confirmed Crohn's disease. He is currently undergoing treatment with adalimumab and is in remission in terms of orbital pseudotumor.

Conclusion and Importance

In conclusion, although the association between orbital pseudotumor and Crohn's disease is very rare, medical professionals should remember this connection when a patient presents with idiopathic orbital pseudotumor. To rule out this possibility, we recommend a thorough history of GI findings should be taken on the initial patient encounter. Crohn's disease may be an underlying cause of certain cases of orbital pseudotumor, and treatment and control of the underlying Crohn's disease may help to reduce recurrence rates of orbital pseudotumor. Additional studies need to be performed to better understand the association between the two diseases.

The role of ultrasonography in differential diagnosis of orbital lesions

AIMS

The aim of this study is to assess the value of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of orbital lesions.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-eight patients with clinical features of an orbital mass were examined by orbital ultrasound prior to undergoing surgery, from January 2000 to January 2017. All patients underwent excisional or incisional orbital biopsy. The results of orbital ultrasonography were compared with the final histological diagnosis.

RESULTS

Orbital lesions were localized by ultrasonography in 133/138 cases (96.4%); the false-negative rate of orbital echography was 3.6% (5/138). The nature of the orbital lesions was correctly determined by ultrasonography in 54.3% of the cases (75/138) preoperatively (true positives). In 58/138 (42%) patients, there was no correspondence between the ultrasound diagnosis and the histological diagnosis (false positives). The sensitivity of orbital ultrasonography for the detection of an orbital mass was 93.75% (CI 87.87-99.63%), while the specificity yielded no meaningful result (CI 0.00-60.24%). Moreover, the specificity of orbital ultrasonography to identify a malignant tumor falls within a CI of 0-62.72%.

CONCLUSIONS

Orbital ultrasonography is a rapid and noninvasive test that is highly sensitive in displaying an orbital mass; however, the specificity in the differential diagnosis of orbital lesions is not meaningful, particularly if malignancy is suspected. The assessment of orbital diseases requires multiple diagnostic approaches to balance the strengths and weaknesses of each method.

A Case of Idiopathic Orbital Inflammation with Shallow Anterior Chamber and Choroidal Detachment

We report a case of idiopathic orbital inflammation with a shallow anterior chamber and choroidal detachments. This study involved an 87-year-old female patient who presented at our department after becoming aware of the progression of diplopia. Examination of the patient's right eye revealed proptosis, as well as conjunctival edema with dilated and tortuous blood vessels. The right-eye anterior chamber was shallow, and fundus examination revealed marked choroidal detachments. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed enlargement of the right-orbit extraocular muscles and a suspected compression of the right-orbit superior and inferior ophthalmic veins, yet no expansion of the cavernous sinus. We diagnosed the patient as having idiopathic orbital inflammation in her right orbit, and subsequently started corticosteroid therapy. One week after initiating treatment, the anterior chamber was found to be nearing a normal depth, and the choroidal detachments were found to have disappeared. Our findings revealed that the inflammatory swelling of the extraocular muscle due to idiopathic orbital inflammation resulted in compression of the right-orbit superior and inferior ophthalmic veins, thus leading to an apparent choroidal circulation disorder that presented with a shallow anterior chamber and marked choroidal detachments.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the orbit initially diagnosed as idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation

Purpose

Differentiating idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation from orbital inflammation secondary to neoplasia may be challenging, as both processes can present similarly. Neoplasms in the orbit may induce inflammation with accompanying fibrosis. Limited sections of histopathological specimens may demonstrate nonspecific inflammation and lead to an inaccurate diagnosis.

Observations

The authors present a case of infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the orbit with mucinous features which was misdiagnosed as idiopathic sclerosing orbital inflammation due to three separate benign biopsy specimens.

Conclusions and Importance

The ophthalmologist must remain suspicious of malignancy in cases of suspected idiopathic orbital inflammation with an atypical clinical course, regardless of apparently benign biopsy results.

Zirconium-89-labelled rituximab PET-CT in orbital inflammatory disease

Background

Orbital inflammatory diseases are a heterogenic group of conditions that often entail a difficult diagnostic process and many patients are treatment resistant. Inflammatory diseases can be visualized by Zirconium-89-labelled rituximab PET-CT (⁸⁹Zr-rituximab PET/CT). In this study, we describe our experience and possible potential of the ⁸⁹Zr-rituximab PET/CT for diagnostic and therapeutic management of refractory orbital inflammation.

Results

Retrospectively, ⁸⁹Zr-rituximab uptake was assessed and related to clinical data. The main outcome measures were the characteristics of the scan and the clinical relation of uptake with the diagnostic process and treatment effectivity. Twelve patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) and suspected idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) were scanned. Six patients had a strong ⁸⁹Zr-rituximab uptake and showed a focal distribution within the lesion. Four patients (one TED, three IOI) responded well to rituximab treatment after a positive scan. ⁸⁹Zr-rituximab PET/CT was essential to the diagnosis of optic nerve meningioma in one patient.

Conclusion

⁸⁹Zr-rituximab PET/CT has the potential to be a powerful tool for the detection of B cell-mediated disease within the orbit and ocular adnexa. This technique can be a valuable addition for diagnosing diseases around the eye and can potentially predict rituximab treatment response in patients with refractory inflammation.

Clinical characteristics, histopathology, and treatment outcomes in adult and pediatric patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical characteristics, histopathology, and treatment outcomes in adult and pediatric patients with nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI).

Methods

This retrospective study evaluates 76 patients with NSOI. The patients were categorized in 9 groups according to the site of involvement and histopathology results. These groups included: anterior involvement, dacryoadenitis, myositis, perineural involvement, acute fat involvement, focal mass, orbital apex involvement, diffuse sclerosing form, and multiple tissue involvement. The course of the disease was categorized as acute, subacute, or chronic. The cases with symptom duration of less than 1 week were classified as acute, 1 week to 1 month as subacute, and more than 1 month as chronic.

Results

36 (47.4%) patients were males. The mean age was 41.68 ± 17.62 (6-75) years. The most common signs and symptoms were periorbital pain, periorbital edema, decreased ocular movements or diplopia, and conjunctival injection. The most common group was dacryoadenitis in 29 (38.1%) cases. The most common form of disease was the acute involvement (50% of patients). Most of the patients were treated by oral corticosteroids. Duration of follow-up was 7.17 ± 6.26 months. Recurrence occurred in 9 (11.8%) of patients during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

This study presents a new categorization in which multiple tissue involvements were separated. Some of the NSOI features differ between adults and children. In most patients, treatment especially with corticosteroids, resolves the clinical findings.

Immunoglobulin G4-related ophthalmic disease

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently recognized inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. It characterized by distinctive histopathological appearance of dense IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis in one or more organs, simultaneously or subsequently. In cases of ocular adnexal involvement, unique clinicohistopathological features were delineated by recent studies, and IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD) is generally recognized as the disease name. A significant proportion of previous labeled idiopathic orbital inflammations and Mikulicz's disease are now consistent with a diagnosis of IgG4-ROD. Increasing studies have accumulated regarding its epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical features, treatment, and the association between lymphoma. In this review, we summarize our present understanding of IgG4-ROD.

Orbital Pseudotumor as a Rare Extrahepatic Manifestation of Hepatitis C Infection

Hepatitis C is frequently accompanied by immune-related extrahepatic manifestations affecting the skin, kidneys, central and peripheral nervous system and exocrine glands. We present the case of a 40-year-old man with left-sided ptosis, exophthalmos and headache. MRI demonstrated left-sided orbital pseudotumor with lacrimal and retro-orbital contrast enhancement extending to the cavernous sinus and the vestibulocochlear nerve. Immunological tests of serum and cerebrospinal fluid identified hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a potential causative agent but did not indicate any additional infectious, malignant or immunological disorder. Hepatological evaluation revealed no signs of advanced liver disease. After initial spontaneous improvement, the patient subsequently developed vestibulocochlear failure with gait disorder, tinnitus and transient left-parietal sensory loss. Lacrimal biopsy demonstrated lymphocytic infiltrate, prompting steroid treatment. After initial improvement, steroids could not be tapered below 40 mg daily for several months due to recurrent symptoms. Twelve months after the initial presentation, the patient's chronic HCV infection was successfully treated with sofosbuvir, simeprevir and ribavirin and he remains now free of symptoms without steroids. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, lymphocytic infiltrate of the salivary and lacrimal glands is a frequent phenomenon. However, the extent of the lymphocytic infiltrate beyond the lacrimal gland to the tip of the orbit, cavernous sinus and vestibulocochlear nerve as in our patient is highly unusual. For all symptomatic extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C infection, treatment of HCV as the underlying immune stimulus is recommended, and it helped to control the symptoms in our patient. In addition, long-term follow-up for recurrent lymphocyte infiltrate and development of lymphoma is warranted.

[Rationale for a diagnostic approach in non-Graves' orbital inflammation--Report of 61 patients]

INTRODUCTION

Orbital inflammatory syndromes include a wide variety of inflammatory intraorbital processes which are very different in terms of clinical presentation and prognosis. We currently prefer to differentiate so-called "specific" inflammations, for which an etiology is able to be identified, from idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndromes (IOIS), for which the etiology remains unknown and the histology is nonspecific.

PURPOSE

To propose an efficient diagnostic approach for clinicians managing patients with non-Graves' orbital inflammations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective and prospective study concerning 61 patients managed by the medical team for non-Graves' orbital inflammations between May, 1999 and May, 2013 in the ophthalmology departments of Nice and Limoges university hospitals in France. Seventeen specific inflammations, 19 orbital lymphomas and 25 idiopathic orbital inflammatory syndromes were included. Patients were divided into two groups. Thirty-six patients (group 1) underwent primary biopsy, while for the other 25 (group 2), therapy was begun empirically without biopsy. We could therefore compare both approaches in terms of diagnostic efficiency and time until identification of a specific etiology.

RESULTS

Our statistical results show that an approach without primary biopsy leads to a number of specific diagnoses statistically much lower than that obtained by the approach with primary biopsy. Also, the risk of missing a specific inflammation (with as a consequence an inappropriate treatment and a risk of functional sequelae as well as a fatal risk of missing a lymphoproliferative pathology) is very clearly higher in the case of not performing primary biopsy. Finally, the average time elapsed between the initial consultation with the ophthalmologist and a specific diagnosis was one month in the case of the first approach, while this delay was almost three times higher with the second approach, with a mean of 2.91 months (P<0.01).

DISCUSSION

Our study shows that biopsy should be the mainstay of diagnostic management. A trial of empiric treatment is only performed first in myositis or in locations where biopsy could jeopardize functional prognosis. It should only be done after biopsy in all other cases. Of course, in all cases of relapse or recurrence after treatment, biopsy should be performed or repeated.

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic work-up of a patient with an orbital inflammatory process must of course include blood testing and orbital imaging, but also a systematic primary biopsy for histological examination in the vast majority of cases. It must be repeated at least in the case of any doubt about the diagnosis or in the case of any recurrence or resistance to treatment.

Biopsy-proven recurrence of unilateral IgG4-related orbital inflammation after 20 years

A 38-year-old female patient presented with a painful swelling in the lateral part of the upper eyelid, a diffuse scleritis and slight hypoglobus of the right eye. An orbital biopsy showed a fibrotic idiopathic orbital inflammation (IOI) with, on immunohistochemical staining, an increased number of IgG4-positive plasma cells scored as >200 per high-power field, with IgG4/IgG ratio >0.50, indicating orbital IgG4 related autoimmune disease. On treatment with oral prednisone and azathioprine the symptoms resolved within 6 months. Twenty years prior, the patient had been diagnosed with an IOI of at the same side, for which at that time a biopsy had been taken similarly. Reclassification of the previous biopsy specimen with immunohistological staining also showed evidence of orbital IgG4 related disease. To our knowledge this is the first report of a biopsy-proven unilateral IgG4-related orbitopathy that recurred after 20 years.

Orbital inflammation developing from epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in an adult

INTRODUCTION

We report a rare case of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) that developed into an orbital inflammation in an adult.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67-year-old Korean man, who had been diagnosed with EKC and treated for conjunctival injection and chemosis in the right eye for 4 days, was referred to Oculoplastics as orbital cellulitis was suspected. At the point of referral, clinical features such as decreased visual acuity, severe eyelid swelling, chemosis, follicles, corneal edema, limitations in lateral eye movement, and diplopia were observed in the right eye. Orbital cellulitis was suspected according to orbital computed tomography scan images, but there was no response to systemic antibiotics. Systemic steroid was administered instead, and then his symptoms and signs started to improve. The final diagnosis of this patient was orbital inflammation related to EKC based on the facts that there was no response to antibiotics, that he presented with contralateral symptoms and signs, that pseudomembrane formation occurred in both eyes, and that the symptoms resolved completely after 2 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians need to consider the possibility of orbital inflammation developing from EKC, even in an adult patient, and treat the patient properly if the EKC symptoms and signs, such as conjunctival injection and follicles, are accompanied with symptoms and signs similar to orbital cellulitis.

[Clinical features and management of acute myositis in idiopathic orbital inflammation]

Acute myositis is the second most common component of non-specific orbital inflammation. We will describe its clinical features and natural history. This is a retrospective study of 10 cases. The diagnosis of acute myositis was based on clinical and imaging criteria. Our study includes five men and five women. The average age was 35.8 years (17-59 years). Clinical symptoms were: pain increased on eye movement (10/10), diplopia (4/10), proptosis (6/10), visual loss (3/10), lid edema (6/10), conjunctival hyperemia (7/10), anterior scleritis (2/10), episcleritis (2/10), chemosis (4/10), upper lid retraction (1/10), limitation of eye movement (3/10), fundus abnormalities (2/10). Imaging showed thickening of one or more extraocular muscles (10/10). Recovery was complete with anti-inflammatory therapy in six patients. Three patients experienced recurrence, and one patient had a clinical rebound upon tapering the treatment. Acute myositis can be defined by pain on eye movement, signs of inflammation, and extraocular muscle thickening on imaging. If the clinical presentation is typical, histopathological analysis can be deferred but remains necessary in cases of poor response to treatment, chronic duration or suspicion of tumor infiltration. The diagnosis of acute myositis may be suspected in the presence of consistent, well-defined clinical signs. Contiguous inflammation is often associated. Treatment is based on steroids or non-steroidal treatment anti-inflammatory therapy, administered alone or consecutively. Recurrences are frequent but do not alter the final prognosis.

Painless orbital myositis

Idiopathic orbital inflammation is the third most common orbital disease, following Graves orbitopathy and lymphoproliferative diseases. We present a 11 year old girl with 15 days history of painless diplopia. There was no history of fluctuation of symptoms, drooping of eye lids or diminished vision. She had near total restricted extra-ocular movements and mild proptosis of the right eye. There was no conjunctival injection, chemosis, or bulb pain. There was no eyelid retraction or lid lag. Rest of the neurological examination was unremarkable.Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was raised with eosinophilia. Antinuclear antibodies were positive. Liver, renal and thyroid functions were normal. Antithyroid, double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid and acetylcholine receptor antibodies were negative. Repetitive nerve stimulation was negative. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit was typical of orbital myositis. The patient responded to oral steroids. Orbital myositis can present as painless diplopia. MRI of orbit is diagnostic in orbital myositis.