1.Successful treatment of a refractory stromal fungal keratitis by intrastromal injection of amphotericin B
Yanti MUSLIKHAN ; Nor Sharina YUSUF ; Khairy Shamel Sonny TEO ; Azhany Y AAKOB ; Mohtar IBRAHIM
International Eye Science 2010;10(11):2054-2057
AIM: To report a successful intrastromal injection of amphotericin B 5mg/L in a refractory fungal keratitis.METHODS: An interventional case report RESULTS: A 48-year-old lady presented with history of redness of the right eye for one week duration followed by decrease in vision and corneal opacity for two days. There was no histow of trauma or foreign body. Examination revealed visual acuity of 6/16 with pinhole of 6/12 of the right eye. The conjunctiva was injected with minimal eye discharge. There was a full thickness stromal abscess at the paracentral area of the cornea. It was irregular,feathery margin with few satellite lesions. There was no epithelial defect noted. Hypopyon level was also seen.The left eye was normal. A presumptive diagnosis of fungal keratitis was entertained. Despite three weeks of intensive treatment with topical amphotericin B every 2 hours and natamycin every 4 hours and antibiotic cover,the lesion showed no sign of resolution. It grew larger and a new focal lesion of stromal abscess appeared at the 12 o'clock position. We decided to proceed with an intrastromal injection of amphotericin B 5mg/L in lieu of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. The size of the ulcer was substantially reduced with total disappearance of hypopyon. There was no ocular toxicity observed following the intervention. Patient regained her normal visual acuity of 6/6 after 2 months of intervention.CONCLUSION: An intrastromal injection of amphotericin B 5mg/L provides an alternative method of treating refractory fungal keratitis. It is also shown to be an effective and safe procedure with promising results.
2.Cryptococcus meningitis in an immunocompetent teenage boy presented early with diplopia
Muslikhan YANTI ; Hitam Wan Hazabbah WAN ; Ishak Raihan SITI ; Mohtar IBRAHIM ; Takaran JOHN
International Eye Science 2010;10(3):421-423
AIM: To report a case of cryptococcus meningitis in an immunocompetent teenager that presented early with diplopia and bilateral poor vision.METHODS:A case report RESULTS:A 17-year-old boy presented with blurring of vision in both eyes and diplopia for 3 weeks. It was associated with severe throbbing headaches, nausea and vomiting. He was also having low grade fever. On physical examination he was afebrile with no sign of meningism. His vision was 6/15 in both eyes with constricted visual field. Anterior segment was normal in both eyes. Extraocular muscles movement showed bilateral sixth nerve palsies. Fundoscopy revealed bilateral hyperaemic and slightly elevated optic disc. CT scan of the brain was normal with no evidence of intracranial mass or abnormal ventricles. Lumbar puncture revealed high opening pressure >300mmH2O. Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) microscopically and culture showed presence of cryptococcus neoformans . This case was combinedly managed with neuro-medical team. Patient was started on intravenous Amphotericin B and fluconazole. His neurological symptoms recovered after a week. His vision was improved to 6/6 in both eyes with recovery of peripheral visual field. The diplopia improved with recovery of sixth nerve palsies in both eyes. Unfortunately, patient developed nosocomial lower respiratory tract infection and was treated for the problem.CONCLUSION: This case highlights the indolent nature of cryptococcus meningitis and the fact that the overt signs of meningism may not be present even in immunocompetent person. Diplopia may be one of the early presentations of meningitis patient.