Re: Corneal issues and Herceptin
Dear Lani and Sheila,
Thanks for your responses As you well know, when something new develops, you just want to reach out. My mum is in the UK and I am in NYC so when I'm not there, my way of overcoming those miles is to do the research and forward it to my sisters. Mum is on her third year of Herceptin, she has also taken mushroom drops since her mastectomy and has done really well though she gets a very bloated belly which gets her down and prevents her from bending, though she is a real trooper and I find her laying on her side in the garden doing the weeding .Lani thanks for the uplifting info on Herceptin and prevention of blood vessels. In following that info, I think the issue is that when you get the dry eyes syndrome which seems really common among H users, the eyes are very susceptible to corneal erosion but here's a positive outcome from Moorefields Eye Hosp in the uk:
Corneal infiltration after recurrent corneal epithelial erosion.
Ionides AC, Tuft SJ, Ferguson VM, Matheson MM, Hykin PG.
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.
Abstract
AIMS: To describe the clinical features of patients with a history of recurrent corneal epithelial erosion who develop acute corneal infiltration.
METHODS: The records were reviewed of patients who had previously been examined and treated for recurrent corneal epithelial erosion and who presented again with signs suggestive of a microbial keratitis.
RESULTS: 11 patients were described; one patient presented with similar signs on two occasions. There was typically a paracentral epithelial defect > 2 mm in diameter with an associated stromal infiltrate and an intense anterior uveitis. Three patients had a hypopyon, and four developed a subepithelial ring infiltrate. Samples were taken for microscopy and bacterial culture, with a positive isolate from two of 12 episodes (16%). Treatment with topical antibiotics and topical corticosteroid resulted in rapid re-epithelialisation and a reduction of inflammation. There was good visual outcome for all eyes, with a recurrence or symptoms of epithelial erosion in only one eye after a mean follow up period of 18 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Corneal infiltrates are an uncommon complication of recurrent corneal epithelial erosion. Despite the intensity of the infiltration the majority are culture negative using established techniques. There is typically rapid resolution and a good visual outcome, with a tendency for the episode to mark the end of further symptoms of epithelial erosion.
Many thanks for being there and many hugs,
Bingy
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