Francesco Pichi - Complications in Uveitis

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Complication: Latinto fold together. Complex combination or intricate intermingling

Medicinea secondary disease, accident or adverse reaction that aggravates an already existing disease

The myriad complications associated with uveitis involve every anatomical part of the eye and surrounding structures. It is a herculean task to not only document and describe these associated complications, but perhaps more importantly to offer concise management options for these often problematic and sometimes devastating problems.

Dr. Pichi and Dr. Neri have put together a book that offers an excellent road map to enable us to diagnose and treat the secondary complications of uveitis. They have been able to unfold this complex intermingling of multiple problems providing the practitioner a road map to forecast, to recognize and to appropriately treat these sequelae. Dr. Pichi and Dr. Neri have assembled an excellent group of subspecialists who tackle the complex and often frustrating problem of managing uveitic complications by subdividing these complications anatomically. It is thus easier to diagnose the occurrence of these complications and then be able to offer an appropriate algorithm for treatment. Kudos to Dr. Pichi and Dr. Neri and their co-authors for addressing these complex problems in a concise and organized manner.

The term band keratopathy refers to band-shaped superficial corneal degeneration that usually involves the interpalpebral area. The degeneration can occur in calcific and non-calcific forms. The disease most commonly intended as band keratopathy implies calcium deposition in the superficial layers of the cornea. Non-calcific superficial corneal depositions, such as those in climatic droplet keratopathy or in the context of gout from urate depositions, are not going to be further discussed in this chapter.

Ever since its first description by Dixon in 1948, the disease has remained somewhat mysterious in its pathogenesis [].

The initial histologic change observed in corneas with band keratopathy is basophilic staining of the epithelial basement membrane, reflecting early calcific change (Fig. ].