OBJECTIVEIn patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), poor outcomes have been shown to be correlated with subsequent cerebral vasospasm (CV) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). The identification of novel biomarkers may aid in the prediction of which patients are vulnerable to developing vasospasm, cerebral ischemia, and neurological deterioration.METHODSIn this prospective clinical study at North Shore University Hospital, patients with aSAH or normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) with external ventricular drains were enrolled. The concentration of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in CSF was assessed for correlation with CV or DCI, the primary outcome measures.RESULTSTwenty-five patients were enrolled in the aSAH group and 9 were enrolled in the NPH group. There was a significant increase in aggregate CSF MIF concentration in patients with aSAH versus those with NPH (24.4 ± 19.2 vs 2.3 ± 1.1 ng/ml, p < 0.0002). Incidence of the day of peak MIF concentration significantly correlated with the onset of clinical vasospasm (rho = 0.778, p < 0.0010). MIF concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with versus those without evidence of DCI (18.7 ± 4.93 vs 8.86 ± 1.28 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.0025). There was a significant difference in MIF concentrations between patients with infection versus those without infection (16.43 ± 4.21 vs 8.5 ± 1.22 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.0119).CONCLUSIONSPreliminary evidence from this study suggests that CSF concentrations of MIF are correlated with CV and DCI. These results, however, could be confounded in the presence of clinical infection. A study with a larger patient sample size is necessary to corroborate these findings.

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) is a chronic allergic inflammatory disease that is at the severe end of a spectrum of allergic conjunctival diseases. AKC can involve the cornea and conjunctiva bilaterally, and at times can lead to visual loss from corneal complications. The classification, histology, ocular examination findings and complications of AKC are described herein, as well as the roles and interactions of inflammatory cells involved. Finally, current treatment options for AKC is reviewed and presented as a stepwise, multidisciplinary approach that involves the allergist/immunologist's medical interventions of topical and systemic immunomodulating agents, as well as the surgical skills of the ophthalmologist.

No abstract