PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to describe 2 patients with persistent severe dry eyes, positive Schirmer tests for Sjogren's syndrome (SS) but lacking antibodies to either Ro or La. These patients were diagnosed to have SS by detecting antibodies to salivary gland protein 1 (Sp1) and parotid secretory protein (PSP). This report emphasizes the existence of patients with SS who lack antibo...

The patient with xerophthalmia is usually found in the polyclinic or during a more-orless superficial school or village inspection. He is a child, and as he comes from an environment unaccustomed to serious medical care, it it often difficult to make the parents understand the gravity of the condition and obtain their consent for his admission to hospital. The patients with xerophthalmia descri...

PURPOSE To report the occurrence of xerophthalmia and keratomalacia in a patient with Alagille syndrome. METHODS The patient's record and relevant literature were reviewed. RESULTS A 3-year-old boy with Alagille syndrome was examined at our institution due to severe bilateral ocular irritation. A corneal ulcer and keratomalacia were found in the right eye and severe dryness with corneal opa...

Greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) schwannomas are very rare tumors. There are only 15 reports, described so far. In this study the authors discuss the clinical presentation, radiological features, surgical approach, postoperative outcome and follow up of 3 cases of this rare schwannoma of the middle fossa, possibly originating from GSPN together with the review of existing literature. T...

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6-9 years in northern Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out and the data were analysed for 824 (61.5%) of 1339 eligible children for whom there was complete information on biochemical vitamin A status, dietary vitamin A intake, ocular examination for xerophthalmia, and anthropometry. FINDINGS ...

Vitamin A deficiency has a plethora of clinical manifestations, ranging from xerophthalmia (practically pathognomonic) to disturbances in growth and susceptibility to severe infection (far more protean). Like other classical vitamin deficiency states (scurvy, rickets), some of the signs and symptoms of xerophthalmia were recognized long ago. Reports related to vitamin A and/or manifestations of...