Background and purposeTopiramate (TPM) is a sulfa-derivative monosaccharide that is used mainly for treating epilepsy and preventing migraine. Within the gamut of side effects attributable to this drug, ophthalmologic manifestations are of crucial importance. In this study, for the first time, the aim was to provide a systematic literature review regarding this issue.MethodsFor the time period 1996–2011, a PubMed search was made for the studies concerning the adverse/beneficial effects of TPM on vision. Overall, 404 citations out of a total of 2756 TPM-related studies were examined for relevance.ResultsA total of 74 relevant studies were reviewed, 65 of which comprise small observational studies describing the ophthalmic side effects of TPM in 84 patients. Of these patients, 66 were affected by ciliochoroidal effusion syndrome as the cardinal ocular side effect of TPM (17 cases of myopic shift and 49 cases of angle closure glaucoma). A comprehensive statistical analysis is provided on these 66 subjects. Other rare side effects of TPM on the vision were also reviewed, including massive choroidal effusion, ocular inflammatory reactions, visual field defects, probable effects on retina, cornea, and sclera, and neuroophthalmologic complications. In addition, a framework is provided to classify these results.DiscussionDue to the expanding spectrum of indications for the administration of TPM, neurologists and psychiatrists should be aware of its diverse ocular side effects. In conclusion, ocular complications following this drug should be taken seriously and be subjected to ophthalmic counseling.

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is described as a paraneoplastic manifestation of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). We reassessed the pathophysiological and clinical significance of this association. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate a cohort of adult patients who developed MCNS and cHL. Twenty-one patients recruited in 15 French centers were analyzed. cHL was associated with inflammatory and general symptoms in most cases. The morphological subtype was predominantly nodular sclerosis (71.4%). MCNS appeared before the diagnosis of lymphoma in eight patients (38.1%) and in this case, it was characterized by a nephrotic syndrome (NS) frequently resistant (50%) or dependent (12.5%) to steroid treatment. Interestingly, diagnosis (3-120 months after MCNS) and effective treatment of the hemopathy were associated with the disappearance of the MCNS. cHL was diagnosed before MCNS in nine patients (42.9%), and in this case, glomerulopathy was associated with cHL relapse in 55.5% of cases. In four patients (19%), the two diseases occurred simultaneously. Extensive immunohistochemical study of lymph nodes was performed in eight patients and did not reveal particular features. In conclusion, MCNS associated with cHL is frequently dependent or resistant to steroid regimen, but remission of NS is obtained with the cure of lymphoma.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with optic neuritis (ON) in 20 % of cases and 50 % of ON patients develop MS within 15 years. In this study, we evaluated the preventive effects of vitamin D3 administration on the conversion of ON to MS (primary outcome) and on the MRI lesions (secondary outcome) of ON patients with low serum 25 (OH) D levels. Thirty ON patients (15 in each of 2 groups, aged 20-40 years) with serum 25 (OH) D levels of less than 30 ng/ml were enrolled in a double blind, randomized, parallel-group trial. The treatment group (cases) received 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly for 12 months and the control group (controls) received a placebo weekly for 12 months. Finally, the subsequent relapse rate and changes in MRI plaques were compared between the two groups. Risk reduction was 68.4 % for the primary outcome in the treatment group (relative risk = 0.316, p = 0.007). After 12 months, patients in the treatment group had a significantly lower incidence rate of cortical, juxtacortical, corpus callosal, new T2, new gadolinium-enhancing lesions and black holes. The mean number of total plaques showed a marginally significant decrease in the group receiving vitamin D3 supplementation as compared with the placebo group (p = 0.092). Administration of vitamin D3 supplements to ON patients with low serum vitamin 25 (OH) D levels may delay the onset of a second clinical attack and the subsequent conversion to MS.

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