Abstract ID: 26-185
Meibomian glands are also affected – a study of HIV positive patients
Author: Jasenka Petrović Jurčević Base Hospital / Institution: Eye Health Unit Zagreb County
Presentation Type: ePoster Presentation
Purpose
Persistent blepharitis is a common reason for visiting ophthalmologist. Numerous environmental factors can lead to insufficient response to therapy. One of these factors is also HIV positive status of patients who are treated with antiretroviral therapy.
Methods
The study is referred to a group of five male Caucasians who addressed to ophthalmological clinic, and reported persistent and recurrent eyelid inflammation symptoms. The ophthalmological examination revealed blepharitis with chalazion in all the patients. Through a discussion with patients about possible causes of relapse of inflammation, it was recognized that all of them have been HIV positive for past few years, and were administered antiretroviral therapy. All the patients were treated with topical therapy followed by the surgical procedure, as needed.
Results
In all the treated patients is recognized the improvement of ophthalmological symptoms. The satisfactory condition was maintained by careful and persistent toileting of the eyelids.
Conclusion
In HIV positive patients the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus in eyelid cultures is high. The infection of the eyelids can develop more aggressively with a prolonged course and it’s often recurrent. It’s important to discuss with blepharitis patients the possible environmental cause why relapses are often. It’s also reported that HIV positive patients on antiretroviral therapy have destructed Meibomian glands and the persistent symptoms of dry eye. In patients with exacerbating blepharitis and chalazion, a careful diagnosis can sometimes, among the other things, reveal the patient’s HIV-positive status. There are no financial or non-financial competing interests to report.
Reference: Ong Beng Seng M, Meyer D, Gichuhi S, Tong L, Sudharshan S, Biswas J, Testi I, Agrawal R. Ocular Surface Disorders in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2020 Oct 2;28(7):1015-1021. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1757122.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Jelena | Juri Mandić | Universitiy Clinical Hospital Zagreb |