Cellular morphological changes detected by laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy associated with clinical outcome in fungal keratitis.

ABSTRACT: HRT3 in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) images may indicate clinical outcome, but few studies have analysed this in fungal keratitis (FK). Adults with FK (diameter ≥3 mm) presenting to Aravind Eye Hospital, India from 2012-3 were enrolled prospectively. IVCM was performed at baseline, days 7, 14 and 21 post-enrolment (+/- 3 days where possible). Specific morphologies were identified in IVCM images by a grader masked to microbiology and clinical outcome (defined as good: healed/improving, or poor: enlarged ulcer, perforation or transplant/glue). Associations with final visit outcome assessed using logistic regression. 143 FK participants were enrolled; 87 had good outcome, 56 had poor outcome. Poor outcomes were associated with stellate interconnected cellular processes with no visible nuclei (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.03-5.06, p = 0.043) in baseline IVCM images, and fungal filaments (OR 6.48, 95% CI:2.50-16.78, p < 0.001) or honeycomb distribution of inflammatory cells (OR 5.24, 95% CI: 1.44-19.06, p = 0.012) in final visit images. Fungal filaments (OR 3.61, 95% CI:1.64-7.95, p = 0.001), stromal dendritiform cells (OR 2.88, 95% CI:1.17-7.11, p = 0.022), or stellate cellular processes with no visible nuclei (OR 2.09, 95% CI:1.14-3.82, p = 0.017) were associated with poor outcome if not in baseline but present in final visit images. IVCM can reveal morphological changes associated with clinical outcome.

SUBMITTER: Chidambaram JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6554396 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature