A 21-year-old man presented with chronic nonspecific conjunctivitis for 5 months. There were multiple oral ulcers and vesicular lesions at his face. B iopsy was done at the ves icula r les ion and the pathological report was compatible with cicatricial pemphigoid. Although the patient did not have any esophageal symptoms, EGD was performed due to patient’s preference. Endoscopic f indings showe...

BACKGROUND Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is a sight threatening autoimmune disease that can lead to severe conjunctival cicatrisation and keratopathy. It has a variable course and little is known about the factors that determine disease progression. This study analysed the factors that have prognostic significance regarding disease outcome, progression, and keratopathy. METHODS Sixty si...

PURPOSE To examine normal and inflamed conjunctiva from patients with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) for the presence of costimulatory molecule CD28 and its ligands B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). METHODS Conjunctival biopsy specimens from 12 patients with OCP and from five healthy persons undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed by light microscopy and immunohistochemical examination with...

OBJECTIVES To determine the rate of endophthalmitis in a group of patients with keratoprostheses and to analyze possible risk factors. METHODS A total of 108 patient eyes, operated on between 1990 and 2000 with double-plated keratoprostheses, were analyzed with regard to the surface flora, the incidence and cause of bacterial endophthalmitis or sterile vitreitis, the keratoprosthesis design, ...