Polyunsaturated fatty acids and Plasmalogens in diabetics

Purpose Plasmalogens (PLS) are phospholipids characterized by a vinyl ether bond and a preferential esterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). We have previously shown that the lack of PLS leads to retinal hyper-capillarization. We hypothesize that PLS are negative regulators of vascular development, and aimed to check their circulating levels in diabetic patients. Methods Blood samples were collected from 88 patients and 14 control subjects. Among diabetics we had 14 patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR), 12 with a mild non proliferative DR, 12 with a moderate non proliferative DR, 22 with a severe non proliferative DR and 24 with a proliferative DR (PDR). Erythrocytes were…

What is driving the decision to perform filtering surgery in glaucoma patients?

Purpose: To assess what is driving the decision to perform a filtering procedure in glaucoma patients. Methods: Retrospective study in one single University center. All the indications for filtering glaucoma surgeries (alone or combined with cataract extraction) performed in 2013 by the same surgeon were reviewed. The indications were as follows: clinical evaluation of the optic disc, visual field progression, progression on imaging (OCT), poor tolerance to medical treatment, poor control of intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract. Results: The filtering surgeries (n = 159) were as follows: 78 trabeculectomies, 45 combined cataract and deep sclerectomy, 24 combined cataract and trabeculecto…

Analysis of the vitreomacular interface in a French population-based study (The MONTRACHET study: Maculopathy, Optic Nerve, nuTRition, neurovAsCular and HEarT diseases)

Maintenance of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents for patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery

International audience; Purpose: To establish the prevalence of anticoagulant, aspirin, and clopidogrel use in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery, and to compare the outcome of peribulbar anesthesia between users and non‐users. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series in one academic center between January and June 2009. We analyzed the chart of 239 eyes who underwent posterior segment surgery with peribulbar anesthesia. No changes in the anticoagulant regimen were made prior to surgery. We divided patients into 7 groups: group 1: patients with no anticoagulants and 6 groups defined according to the type of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. Results: 239 eyes (206 pat…

Erythrocyte Phospholipid and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Composition in Diabetic Retinopathy

Background: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) including docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid are suspected to play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. LCPUFAs are known to be preferentially concentrated in specific phospholipids termed as plasmalogens. This study was aimed to highlight potential changes in the metabolism of phospholipids, and particularly plasmalogens, and LCPUFAs at various stages of diabetic retinopathy in humans. Methodology and Principal Findings: We performed lipidomic analyses on red blood cell membranes from controls and mainly type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with or without retinopathy. The fatty acid composition of erythrocytes was det…

Effect of an adjunctive first-line intravitreal betamethasone injection in postoperative endophthalmitis

International audience

Macular sensitivity and structure in idiopathic epiretinal membranes 12 months after surgical treatment

Purpose: To evaluate macular sensitivity (MS) change and its correlation with visual acuity (VA) and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgical treatment.Methods: Prospective, monocenter, interventional case series. We included 49 patients (49 eyes) with an idiopathic ERM scheduled for a surgical treatment. Among these patients, 40 were evaluated at 3 and 6 months (M3, M6), and 31 at 12 months (M12) after ERM and internal limiting membrane removal. At each visit a measurement of best-corrected visual acuity (ETDRS), a microperimetry and a SD-OCT were performed for all patients.Results: The …

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and plasmalogens in diabetics

PurposePlasmalogens are phospholipids characterized by a vinyl ether bond and a preferential esterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). We have previously shown that the lack of plasmalogens leads to retinal hyper-capillarization. We hypothesize that plasmalogens are negative regulators of vascular development, and aimed to check their circulating levels in diabetic patients with a retinopathy. MethodsBlood samples were collected from 88 patients and 14 control subjects. Among diabetics we had 14 patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR), 12 with a mild non proliferative DR, 12 with a moderate non proliferative DR, 22 with a severe non proliferative DR and 24 with a proliferativ…

Endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections: incidence, presentation, management, and visual outcome

Purpose To report the incidence and characteristics of endophthalmitis after intravitreal injections of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor agents or corticosteroids and to describe the clinical and bacteriologic characteristics, management, and outcome of these eyes with acute endophthalmitis in France. Design Retrospective, nationwide multicenter case series. Methods From January 2, 2008 to June 30, 2013, a total of 316 576 intravitreal injections from 25 French ophthalmic centers were included. For each center, the number of intravitreal injections was determined using billing codes and the injection protocol was recorded. A registry and hospital records were reviewed to identify pat…

Normal values for fundus perimetry with the MAIA microperimeter and short-term repeatability evaluation

National audience; Purpose To assess retinal sensitivity by means of microperimetry and to evaluate the intersession fluctuation using the MAIA microperimeter in healthy volunteers. Methods Prospective, monocentre study. Fifty‐six healthy volunteers (age range, 20–80 years), underwent an automatic, full‐threshold microperimetry of the central field (custom grid, area of 10° in diameter, 37 stimulated points), with the MAIA microperimeter (CenterVue, Padova, Italy). A subgroup of 24 subjects was retested after 1 h (test 2) and 1 week (test 3) to determine the repeatability of the technique. A subgroup of 22 subjects was also tested on the OPKO microperimeter (Optos, Dunfermline, Scotland) (a…

Maintenance of anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents for patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery

International audience; Purpose: To establish the prevalence of anticoagulant, aspirin, and clopidogrel use in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery, and to compare the outcome of peribulbar anesthesia between users and non-users. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series in one academic center between January and June 2009. We analyzed the chart of 239 eyes who underwent posterior segment surgery with peribulbar anesthesia. Data included age, reasons for anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agents, operative procedure, history of diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, axial globe length, pre and post operative visual acuity, complications rates during and after anes…