Monica Pop

Bio: Monica Pop is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cornea & Transplantation. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 7 publications receiving 82 citations.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Abstract: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a disorder characterised by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and/or pregnancy losses, in the presence of persistently elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies and/or evidence of circulating lupus anticoagulant (these abnormalities are detected by blood tests). Primary APS occurs when there is no evidence of associated diseases. APS in the presence of an underlying disease, usually systemic lupus erythematosus, is called secondary APS.

New clinical application of amniotic membrane transplant for ocular surface disease.

Abstract: UNLABELLED The new defined anatomical and functional complex conjunctiva-limbus-cornea is a new concept, which helps clinicians better understand and treat ocular surface pathologies. The management of the ocular surface disease has changed dramatically over the years, with spectacular improvements of techniques, and of course, results. The amniotic membrane, used as a graft or as a substrate for the cultivation of limbal corneal cells has showed encouraging results. AIM To investigate the usefulness of amniotic membrane transplantation in ocular surface pathologies. METHOD The study is retrospective. 28 eyes of 28 patients with ocular surface pathologies (ocular burns, recent and old, symblepharon, pterygium, corneal and conjunctival tumors, persistent epithelial defect) underwent an amniotic membrane transplantation during a 1 year period. The necrotic and the scar tissue were first excised in all the patients and the amniotic membrane was sutured with an epithelial face up. Follow up ranged from 1 to 12 months. RESULTS Good results were obtained in all 28 eyes. The anatomy of cornea and conjunctiva was improved, with limited benefits only in old ocular burn, symblepharon and in one case of extended tumors of the cornea and conjunctiva. Out of 28 eyes, 23 (82%) also had a visual acuity improvement. CONCLUSION The amniotic membrane may be considered a good alternative for ocular surface reconstruction especially in acute status. ABBREVIATIONS AMT = amniotic membrane transplantation, BCVA = best corrected visual acuity, BUT = break up time.

Incidence of Herpes Simplex Virus Keratitis in HIV/AIDS patients compared with the general population.

Abstract: UNLABELLED Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with a wide spectrum of systemic and ocular infectious diseases. Little information is known about Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) keratoconjunctivitis in association with AIDS. Because HSV-1 is becoming, day by day, a common eye disease (nearly 100% patients of over 60 years old harbor HSV in their trigeminal ganglia at autopsy), this article discussing a worldwide public health problem. AIM The purpose of this paper is to compare the incidence and clinical aspects of HSV-1 Keratitis in HIV/ AIDS patients compared with the general population who develops HSV- 1 Keratitis. METHOD The study is retrospective and comparative. Each patient was examined thoroughly at the biomicroscope ocular slit after corneal staining with fluorescein or rose bengal. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure and corneal sensitivity were also examined. RESULTS From 170 patients with HIV and ocular anterior segment disorders, 47 patients had viral etiology. 58 patients had keratitis; 14 of them were HSV-1 keratitis. CONCLUSION Doctors should be aware of the existence of the ocular damage in HIV/ AIDS and emphasize the importance of regular ophthalmologic examination of patients with HIV/ AIDS as HSV infection is common nowadays among the general population.

Ophthalmological involvement in rheumatic disease

Abstract: PURPOSE: The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of ocular manifestations in rheumatic patients admitted in a specialized clinic. METHODS: Information regarding rheumatic and ocular diseases was extracted from medical records system available in "Dr. I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital from Bucharest. The prevalence of ocular involvement reported passively by rheumatologists (retrospective descriptive study of 375 different cases of rheumatic patients) was compared with the literature data. RESULTS: There were 45 cases of ocular manifestations. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca was noted in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and one patient with scleroderma. Anterior uveitis was found in seven patients with ankylosing spondylitis, one patient with reactive arthritis, two patients with psoriatic arthritis and one patient with LES. Conjunctivitis was present in two patients with reactive arthritis. In LES ocular involvement also included four cases of retinal vasculitis. Complications clearly related to steroid therapy were nine cases of cataracts. One case with typical "bull's eye" maculopathy due to Hydroxychloroquine treatment was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The main conclusion of our study is that the rheumatic patients need to be referred to an ophthalmologist for the diagnosis and the optimal treatment of ocular involvement.

Ocular surface reconstruction in limbal stem cell deficiency.

Abstract: The purpose of our review was to familiarize the readers with the new concepts in ocular surface diseases and reconstruction. Limbal stem cell deficiency is characterized by the progressive invasion of conjunctival epithelial cells onto the cornea, superficial vascularisation, destruction of the corneal basement membrane, and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration. Depending on the severity of the disease and the time passed from the primary injury amniotic membrane transplantation, keratolimbal allograft and autograft are the available treatments hoping that, in the nearest future, stem cell transplantation and tissue engineering will become the usual therapeutic choices.

The antiphospholipid syndrome: from pathophysiology to treatment

Abstract: Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune acquired thrombophilia characterized by recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). APS can be primary, if it occurs in the absence of any underlying disease, or secondary, if it is associated with another autoimmune disorder, most commonly systemic lupus erythematosus. The exact pathogenetic mechanism of APS is unknown, but different, not mutually exclusive, models have been proposed to explain how anti-PL autoantibodies might lead to thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Diagnosis of APS requires that a patient has both a clinical manifestation (arterial or venous thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity) and persistently positive aPL, but the clinical spectrum of the disease encompasses additional manifestations which may affect every organ and cannot be explained exclusively by a prothrombotic state. Treatment for aPL-positive patients is based on the patient's clinical status, presence of an underlying autoimmune disease, and history of thrombotic events. In case of aPL positivity without previous thrombotic events, the treatment is mainly focused on reduction of additional vascular risk factors, while treatment of patients with definite APS is based on long-term anticoagulation. Pregnancy complications are usually managed with low-dose aspirin in association with low molecular weight heparin. Refractory forms of APS could benefit from adding hydroxychloroquine and/or intravenous immunoglobulin to anticoagulation therapy. Promising novel treatments include anti-B cell monoclonal antibodies, new-generation anticoagulants, and complement cascade inhibitors. The objective of this review paper is to summarize the recent literature on APS from pathogenesis to current therapeutic options.

The retinal atlas

Abstract: Chapter 1: Normal Chapter 2: Hereditary chorioretinal dystrophies Chapter 3: Pediatric retina Chapter 4: Inflammation Chapter 5: Infection Chapter 6: Retinal vascular disease Chapter 7: Degeneration Chapter 8: Oncology Chapter 9: Macular fibrosis, pucker, cysts, holes, folds, and edema Chapter 10: Non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment Chapter 11: Peripheral retinal degenerations and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment Chapter 12: Traumatic chorioretinopathy Chapter 13: Complications of ocular surgery Chapter 14: Chorioretinal toxicities Chapter 15: Congenital anomalies of the optic nerve

Isolated IgA anti- β2 glycoprotein I antibodies in patients with clinical criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome.

Abstract: Seronegative antiphospholipid syndrome (SNAPS) is an autoimmune disease present in patients with clinical manifestations highly suggestive of Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) but with persistently negative consensus antiphospholipid antibodies (a-PL). IgA anti-β2 Glycoprotein I (aB2-GPI) antibodies are associated with APS. However, they are not currently considered to be laboratory criteria due to the heterogeneity of published works and the use of poor standardized diagnostic systems. We have aimed to assess aPL antibodies in a group of patients with clinical manifestations of APS (C-APS) to evaluate the importance of the presence of IgA aB2GPI antibodies in APS and its relation with other aPL antibodies. Only 14% of patients with C-APS were positive for any consensus antibody, whereas the presence of isolated IgA aB2GPI antibodies was found in 22% of C-APS patients. In patients with arterial thrombosis IgA aB2GPI, antibodies were the only aPL antibodies present. Serologic profile in primary APS (PAPS) is different from systemic autoimmune disorders associated APS (SAD-APS). IgA aB2GPI antibodies are more prevalent in PAPS and IgG aB2GPI antibodies are predominant in SAD-APS. The analysis of IgA aB2GPI antibodies in patients with clinical manifestations of PAPS might avoid underdiagnosed patients and provide a better diagnosis in patients with SAD-APS. Laboratory consensus criteria might consider including analysis of IgA aB2GPI for APS diagnosis.

Antiphospholipid syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: are they separate entities or just clinical presentations on the same scale?

Abstract: Purpose of review Although originally described in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome was then recognized as a primary antiphospholipid syndrome without any underlying autoimmune disease in almost half of the cases. However, cases of primary antiphospholipid syndrome were reported to evolve into systemic lupus erythematosus over time suggesting that these apparently different diseases are somehow related. Recent findings Peculiar biological systemic lupus erythematosus markers such as an autoantibody response against chromatin antigens and complement activation have been also described in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Distinct polymorphisms of common genetic factors have been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid syndrome supporting the notion that these entities are indeed variants within a continuum of the same disease. Summary A multiorgan involvement that cannot be explained by the thrombophilic state per se and similar to the well known clinical manifestations in lupus is reported in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome. Further studies, mainly genetic, will better underline the proximity between primary antiphospholipid syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.