PURPOSE: Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. However, there are few data on the natural history of trachomatous trichiasis to guide program planning or that investigate its pathogenesis. METHODS: A cohort of Gambians with trichiasis in one or both eyes who had declined surgery was observed. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and 4 years later. Conjunctival swab samples were collected for Chlamydia trachomatis PCR and bacteriology. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four people were examined at baseline and 4 years later (241 nonsurgical eyes). At baseline 124 (52%) eyes had major trichiasis (5+ lashes), 75 (31%) minor trichiasis (1-4 lashes), and 42 (17%) no trichiasis. By 4 years, trichiasis had developed in 12 (29%) of 42 previously unaffected eyes. Minor trichiasis progressed to major in 28 (37%) of 75 eyes. New corneal opacification more commonly developed in eyes that had major (10%) compared to minor (5%) trichiasis at baseline. Bacterial infection was common (23%), becoming more frequent with increasing trichiasis. C. trachomatis infection was rare (1%). Conjunctival inflammation was common (29%) and was associated with progressive trichiasis and corneal opacification. CONCLUSIONS: Trichiasis progressed in the long-term in this environment, despite a low prevalence of C. trachomatis. Blinding corneal opacification develops infrequently, unless major trichiasis is present. Epilation and early surgery need to be formally compared for the management of minor trichiasis. The pathologic correlates and promoters of conjunctival inflammation need to be investigated.
PURPOSE: Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. However, there are few data on the natural history of trachomatous trichiasis to guide program planning or that investigate its pathogenesis. METHODS: A cohort of Gambians with trichiasis in one or both eyes who had declined surgery was observed. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and 4 years later. Conjunctival swab samples were collected for Chlamydia trachomatis PCR and bacteriology. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four people were examined at baseline and 4 years later (241 nonsurgical eyes). At baseline 124 (52%) eyes had major trichiasis (5+ lashes), 75 (31%) minor trichiasis (1-4 lashes), and 42 (17%) no trichiasis. By 4 years, trichiasis had developed in 12 (29%) of 42 previously unaffected eyes. Minor trichiasis progressed to major in 28 (37%) of 75 eyes. New corneal opacification more commonly developed in eyes that had major (10%) compared to minor (5%) trichiasis at baseline. Bacterial infection was common (23%), becoming more frequent with increasing trichiasis. C. trachomatis infection was rare (1%). Conjunctival inflammation was common (29%) and was associated with progressive trichiasis and corneal opacification. CONCLUSIONS: Trichiasis progressed in the long-term in this environment, despite a low prevalence of C. trachomatis. Blinding corneal opacification develops infrequently, unless major trichiasis is present. Epilation and early surgery need to be formally compared for the management of minor trichiasis. The pathologic correlates and promoters of conjunctival inflammation need to be investigated.
Authors: Victor H Hu; Patrick Massae; Helen A Weiss; Caroline Chevallier; Jecinta J Onyango; Isaac A Afwamba; David C W Mabey; Robin L Bailey; Matthew J Burton Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-04-06 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Vicky Cevallos; John P Whitcher; Muluken Melese; Wondu Alemayehu; Elizabeth Yi; Jaya D Chidambaram; Scott Lee; Harsha Reddy; Bruce D Gaynor; Thomas M Lietman; Jeremy D Keenan Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2012-08-07 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Emily W Gower; Shannath L Merbs; Beatriz E Munoz; Amir Bedri Kello; Wondu Alemayehu; Alemush Imeru; Sheila K West Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-04-25 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Matthew J Burton; Robin L Bailey; David Jeffries; Saul N Rajak; Richard A Adegbola; Ansumana Sillah; David C W Mabey; Martin J Holland Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2010-03-17 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: Victor H Hu; Helen A Weiss; Athumani M Ramadhani; Sonda B Tolbert; Patrick Massae; David C W Mabey; Martin J Holland; Robin L Bailey; Matthew J Burton Journal: Infect Immun Date: 2011-10-28 Impact factor: 3.441
Authors: Manoj Gambhir; Maria-Gloria Basáñez; Matthew J Burton; Anthony W Solomon; Robin L Bailey; Martin J Holland; Isobel M Blake; Christl A Donnelly; Ibrahim Jabr; David C Mabey; Nicholas C Grassly Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2009-06-16