OBJECTIVEThe expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is elevated in diabetic macular edema (DME). Ranibizumab binds to and inhibits multiple VEGF variants. We investigated the safety and efficacy of ranibizumab in DME involving the foveal center.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSThis was a 12-month, multicenter, sham-controlled, double-masked study with eyes (age >18 years, type 1 or 2 diabetes, central retinal thickness [CRT] ≥300 μm, and best corrected visual acuity [BCVA] of 73–39 ETDRS letters [Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study]) randomly assigned to intravitreal ranibizumab (0.3 or 0.5 mg; n = 51 each) or sham (n = 49). The treatment schedule comprised three monthly injections, after which treatment could be stopped/reinitiated with an opportunity for rescue laser photocoagulation (protocol-defined criteria). After month 1, dose-doubling was permitted (protocol-defined criteria, injection volume increased from 0.05 to 0.1 ml and remained at 0.1 ml thereafter). Efficacy (BCVA and CRT) and safety were compared between pooled ranibizumab and sham arms using the full analysis set (n = 151, patients receiving ≥1 injection).RESULTSAt month 12, mean ± SD BCVA improved from baseline by 10.3 ± 9.1 letters with ranibizumab and declined by 1.4 ± 14.2 letters with sham (P < 0.0001). Mean CRT reduction was 194.2 ± 135.1 μm with ranibizumab and 48.4 ± 153.4 μm with sham (P < 0.0001). Gain of ≥10 letters BCVA from baseline occurred in 60.8% of ranibizumab and 18.4% of sham eyes (P < 0.0001). Safety data were consistent with previous studies of intravitreal ranibizumab.CONCLUSIONSRanibizumab is effective in improving BCVA and is well tolerated in DME. Future clinical trials are required to confirm its long-term efficacy and safety.

Clinicians, parents, and elder children with congenital infection should be informed that late-onset retinal lesions and relapse can occur many years after birth but that the overall ocular prognosis of congenital toxoplasmosis is satisfactory when infection is identified early and treated accordingly.

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We found specific cytokine profiles for each type of uveitis, with large interindividual variations and no etiological or clinical correlations. Ocular cytokine mapping contributes to a better understanding of the physiopathology of specific forms of uveitis and provides guidance for new targeted treatment.

Ocular toxoplasmosis is the major cause of posterior uvetis in European populations. The clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmic chorioretinitis is based upon ophthalmoscopic findings, which are often but not always typical. Laboratory testing is therefore important to confirm the etiology of the disease. In the present 2-year prospective study, the relative diagnostic sensitivities of the three analytical techniques (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], immunoblotting, and PCR) were compared by using a group of patients (n ‫؍‬ 19) with suspected ocular toxoplasmosis. The relative specificities of the three techniques were assessed by including two control groups of patients: one with nontoxoplasmic and noninflammatory ocular disease (n ‫؍‬ 48) and the other with nontoxoplasmic and inflammatory ocular disease (n ‫؍‬ 20). All 19 of the clinically suspect patients had serological evidence of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii: 17 had been previously infected, and 2 had current infection. The analysis of paired aqueous humor and serum samples by ELISA and immunoblotting revealed the local production of specific antibodies of the immunoglobulin G type in 63% (12 of 19) and 53% (10 of 19) of patients, respectively. PCR analysis of aqueous humor samples confirmed the presence of T. gondii DNA in 28% (5 of 18) of cases. When combined, ELISA, immunoblotting, and PCR findings confirmed the toxoplasmic origin of retinal lesions in 83% (15 of 18) of patients. The relative specificities of the three techniques were 89% for ELISA and immunoblotting and 100% for PCR.

Despite thorough rinsing after application, significant amounts of the not sufficiently water soluble indocyanine and infracyanine green are retained after surgery by the eye. Trypan blue, being more water-soluble than ICG, is probably retained to the least degree. This circumstance is fortunate given that trypan blue exhibits a chronic cytotoxicity comparable to ICG at all clinically relevant concentrations. During vitrectomy, surgeons should aim to expose retinal tissue to only low concentrations of these stains and for as short a period as possible.

Purpose: To standardize a nomenclature system for defining clinical phenotypes, and outcome measures for reporting clinical and research data in patients with ocular tuberculosis (OTB). Methods: Uveitis experts initially administered and further deliberated the survey in an open meeting to determine and propose the preferred nomenclature for terms related to the OTB, terms describing the clinical phenotypes and treatment and reporting outcomes. Results: The group of experts reached a consensus on terming uveitis attributable to tuberculosis (TB) as tubercular uveitis. The working group introduced a SUN-compatible nomenclature that also defines disease "remission" and "cure", both of which are relevant for reporting treatment outcomes. Conclusion: A consensus nomenclature system has been adopted by a large group of international uveitis experts for OTB. The working group recommends use of standardized nomenclature to prevent ambiguity in communication and to achieve the goal of spreading awareness of this blinding uveitis entity.