In this limited-size, short-term exploratory study, SDM laser was effective in treating chronic CSC. There was no evidence of retinal damage induced by treatment.

Antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies classically have been associated with thrombotic phenomena and abortion in patients with autoimmune diseases. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the frequency of such antibodies in patients infected with HIV and study its association with the presence of clinical manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Using a transversal study, a population of patients diagnosed with HIV, identified through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test and confirmed by Western blotting, aged above 17 years old, was investigated. Through a standard questionnaire, the presence of APS manifestations was investigated, as well as the frequency of rheumatic manifestations. Antibodies against beta2 glycoprotein I (anti-beta2 GPI) and anticardiolipin (aCL) IgA, IgG, and IgM were investigated by the ELISA method using commercial kits (QUANTA Lite, INOVA Diagnostics). Ninety patients were studied, 47 (52.2%) male and 43 (47.8%) female. Clinical manifestations of APS were detected in 12 patients (13.3%) of the studied population, whereas arthralgia was the most common rheumatic manifestation (38.9%). Of the 90 patients, 40 (44.4%) were reactive for at least one type of aPL antibody (aCL and/or anti-beta2 GPI). The frequency of aCL was 17.8%, from which 15 (16.7%) had aCL IgG, 3 (3.3%) IgM, and 1 (1.1%) IgA. The frequency of the anti-beta2 GPI antibody was 33.3%, from which 29 (32.2%) were positive for isotype IgA, 4 (4.4%) isotype IgM, and 1 (1.1%) isotype IgG. No association was observed between immunoreactivity for aPL antibodies in general or each isotype in particular and the presence of APS manifestation. In the present study, it was possible to observe a relatively high frequency of aPL antibodies, particularly for isotype IgA anti-beta2 GPI in HIV. However, there was no association to APS manifestations, suggesting that such antibodies had no etiopathogenic role in these complications in patients with such retroviral infection.

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Purpose To investigate factors associated with changes in optic nerve head (ONH) topography after acute intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods Untreated POAG patients (IOP 421 mm Hg) were prospectively enrolled. Systemic and ocular information were collected, including central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal hysteresis (CH). All patients underwent confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and tonometry (Goldmann) before and 1 h after pharmacological IOP reduction. The mean of three measurements was considered for analysis. Changes in each ONH topographic parameter were assessed (one eye was randomly selected), and those that changed significantly were correlated with patient's systemic and ocular characteristics. Results A total of 42 patients were included (mean age, 66.7 ± 11.8 years). After a mean IOP reduction of 47.3±11.9%, significant changes were observed in cup area and volume, and in rim area and volume (Po0.01), but not in mean cup depth (P ¼ 0.80). Multiple regression analysis (controlling for baseline IOP and magnitude of IOP reduction) showed that CH (r 2 ¼ 0.17, Po0.01) and diabetes diagnosis (r 2 X0.21, Po0.01) were negatively correlated with the magnitude of changes in ONH parameters, whereas the cup-to-disc ratio was positively correlated (r 2 ¼ 0.30, Po0.01). Age, race, disc area, and CCT were not significant (PX0.12). Including all significant factors in a multivariable model, only the presence of diabetes remained significantly associated with all ONH parameters evaluated (Po0.01). Conclusions Different systemic and ocular factors, such as diabetes, CH, and the relative size of the cup, seem to be associated with the magnitude of changes in ONH topography after acute IOP reduction in POAG patients. These associations partially explain the ONH changes observed in these patients and suggest that other factors are possibly implicated in an individual susceptibility to IOP.

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