1.External beam radiotherapy for bilateral leukemic infiltrative optic neuropathy in a pediatric patient
Amapola M. Oropilla ; Junn Pajarillo
Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology 2022;47(1):40-44
Objective
To describe a rare case of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with optic nerve head tumor cell
infiltration treated with external beam irradiation.
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
;
Optic Nerve
;
Radiotherapy
2.Intravitreal bevacizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Junn R. Pajarillo ; Harvey S. Uy ; Milagros H. Arroyo
Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology 2009;34(2):37-43
Objectives:
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs delivered
intravitreally have been proven effective and safe for the treatment of patients
diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). This
study evaluated the short-term biologic efficacy and safety of multiple
intravitreal injections of bevacizumab in patients with neovascular ARMD.
Methods:
A prospective, interventional, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial
was done involving patients with active subfoveal neovascular ARMD. Excluded
were patients with significant media opacity, concomitant retinal/ocular diseases,
previous intravitreal injections, recent laser treatment or intraocular surgery,
and contraindications to the drug. Demographic data were taken and a complete
ocular examination, fluorescein angiogram (FA), and optical coherence
tomogram (OCT) were performed. Patients received either 3 monthly
intravitreal injections of 1.25mg bevacizumab or sham injections. Best-corrected
visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness were recorded at baseline,
2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks follow-up. Ocular/Periocular or systemic drug-related side
effects or toxicities and iatrogenic complications were noted.
Results:
Thirty eyes (15 per group) were included in the final analysis. Both treatment
and control groups were comparable in baseline characteristics. There was a
significant increase in the mean visual acuity (p < 0.001) in eyes treated with
bevacizumab across all time periods. The average gain at the end of the study
was 11.6 letters. This paralleled a similar significant decrease in central macular
thickness for the treatment group (p < 0.02). No major ocular adverse events
were noted.
Conclusion
This study supported the growing body of evidence that intravitreal injections of bevacizumab 1.25 mg result in short-term anatomical as well as functional improvement with minimal adverse events in patients with neovascular
ARMD.
Choroidal Neovascularization
;
Macular Degeneration
;
Bevacizumab
3.Criteria for the timing of the initial retinal examination to screen for retinopathy of prematurity
Milagros H. Arroyo ; Dino L. Camonias ; Andrea Kristina Monzon-Pajarillo ; Farlah Angela M. M. Salvosa-Sevilla ; Junn R. Pajarillo ; Aldous de Leon ; Gabrielle S. Evangelista
Philippine Journal of Ophthalmology 2010;35(1):15-19
Objective:
To determine the applicability of a modified criteria for initiating retinal
examinations to screen for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods:
All ROP charts of babies who had initial retinal examination to screen for
ROP from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008 at the neonatal-intensivecare nursery and eye center of a tertiary hospital were reviewed. Date of birth,
sex, age of gestation (AOG), birth weight (BW), postnatal age (PNA),
postconceptional age (PCA), and ROP classification were recorded. Descriptive
statistics and Student’s t-test were used to analyze the data.
Results:
A total of 690 eyes of 345 babies, 174 males and 171 females, were included
in the study. At the initial retinal exam, the mean AOG was 31.39 ± 2.46 weeks;
BW, 1,268.77± 317.12 grams; PNA, 4.56 ± 2.95 weeks; and PCA, 35.94 ± 3.26
weeks. Immature retinas in both eyes were seen in 175 (50.72%) babies, while
113 (32.75%) had ROP of any stage in both eyes and 51 (14.78%) had
immature retina in one eye and ROP of any stage in the other eye. Among the
113 babies with ROP, 33 (29.2%) were assessed to have pre-threshold ROP.
Conclusion
This study supported the applicability of the modified criteria which are in
agreement with the Joint Statements of the American Academy of Pediatrics,
American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Association of Pediatric
Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the United Kingdom Royal College of
Pediatrics and Child Health for initiating retinal exams to screen for ROP.
Retinopathy of Prematurity