Joana Cardigos

Sjögren's Syndrome (SjS) is a chronic systemic immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and consequent lesion of exocrine glands. SjS diagnosis and classification remains a challenge, especially at SjS onset, when patients may have milder phenotypes of the disease or uncommon presentations. New biomarkers are n...

Purpose/Aim: Our study aims to evaluate corneal subbasal nerve plexus morphology by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients, and to explore their potential ability to distinguish between MS patients and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study, including sixty MS patients and twenty-two he...

Purpose To assess and compare corneal sub‐basal nerve plexus morphology with circulating lymphocyte subsets, immunologic status and disease activity in Sjögren syndrome (SjS) patients. Methods Fifty‐five SjS patients, 63 Sicca patients (not fulfilling SjS criteria), 18 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were included....

Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, i.e. autoimmune epithelitis. Lymphocytes are central in SjS pathogenesis, with B‑cell hyperactivity mediated by T‑cells. B‑cells are main targets of Epstein‑Barr virus (EBV) infection, a frequently‑suggested trigger for SjS. We aimed to evaluate how the EBV in...

Objectives Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) patients exhibit great phenotypical heterogeneity, reinforced by the positiveness of anti-SSA antibody. We aimed to evaluate lymphocyte subpopulations in SSA-positive (SSA+SjS) and SSA-negative (SSA−SjS) SjS patients, Sicca patients, and healthy controls (HC), and to investigate associations between lymphocyte su...

Iris melanocytoma (IM) is a rare variant of iris nevus with distinctive clinical and histopathological features. A 66-year-old woman, with a history of right eye pigmented iris nevus, presented to us with a recent onset of visual acuity decrease in that eye. She had a melanocytic iris lesion with iridocorneal angle invasion, peripheral corneal adhe...

Sjögren's Syndrome (SjS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, i.e. autoimmune epithelitis. Lymphocytes are central in SjS pathogenesis, with B-cell hyperactivity mediated by T-cells. B-cells are main targets of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, a frequently-suggested trigger for SjS. We aimed to evaluate how the EBV in...

Introduction Image processing of optical coherence tomography scans through binarization techniques represent a non-invasive way to separately asses and measure choroidal components, in vivo. In this review, we systematically search the scientific literature regarding binarization studies published so far. Methods A systematic research was conduct...

Introduction Dry eye disease severity is classically obtained through an evaluation of tear film stability and tear production, lid margin disease, ocular surface damage and tear osmolarity. Other parameters for severity classification are know being used for a more accurate follow‐up and managing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tear...

Purpose: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent cause of neurologic disability in young adults, characterized by demyelination and axonal degeneration. Monitoring this last component remains an important challenge. Our study aims to assess corneal subbasal nerve plexus morphology by in vivo confocal microscopy (CCM) and explore the possibilit...

Background Follicular T-cells, characterized by the expression of CXCR5, secrete interleukin 21 (IL-21) and help B-cell differentiation in lymphoid follicles. They are also found in circulation and may play a key role in Sjögren’s syndrome’s (pSS) chronic autoimmune epithelitis. Objectives To characterize circulating follicular helper (Tfh) and cy...

Background Some B-cell subsets contribute to the regulation of immune responses, mainly through the secretion of interleukin-10, which suppresses T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells and induces regulatory T-cells (Tregs). The role of Bregs and Tregs in Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) pathogenesis is an active field of research. Objectives To evaluate the dis...

Purpose: To study structural chorioretinal changes in tamoxifen-treated patients. Methods: Cross-sectional case-control study comparing structural chorioretinal aspects in tamoxifen-treated patients and healthy controls. Enhanced depth spectral domain optic coherence tomography with choroidal binarization and optic coherence tomography angiograp...

Bilateral orbital metastases restricted to the extraocular muscles (EOMs) are exceedingly rare. We report a case of bilateral extraocular muscle metastases from a small cell lung carcinoma and provide a review of the relevant literature. A 56-year-old smoker presented with proptosis, motility changes, and a relative afferent pupillary defect of the...

Nanotechnology enabled the development of materials and devices with great utility in different fields of medicine. By using engineered-based nano-devices and structures, human biological systems may be controlled and repaired at a molecular scale, ultimately leading to a biological benefit. In particular, in the field of glaucoma treatment, nanote...

Purpose: To evaluate lower tear meniscus and corneal sub-basal nerve plexus in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and Sicca syndrome patients. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 116 patients with Sicca syndrome associated with pSS and not associated with Sjögren's syndrome (non-SS Sicca) and 20 normal control subjects. Tear meniscus height and area...

B-cells play a pivotal role in primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) pathogenesis. We aim to (1) evaluate the distribution of B-lymphocyte subpopulations in pSS and Sicca patients, (2) establish cut-off points that discriminate pSS from controls, (3) evaluate the association between memory B-cells and phenotypic features in pSS. We included 57 pSS patie...

Background B-cell disturbances are a hallmark of pSS and play a pivotal role in the disease pathogenesis and clinical evolution, and may as well have a potential role in diagnosis. In pSS, an increase of the naïve subset and a decrease of memory B-cells have been reported. A decreased frequency of memory cells has also been identified in patients w...

Purpose: To analyze the area of retinal nonperfusion in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and its relation to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer thickness. Procedures: Patients with ischemic BRVO, with no signs of fluid, were evaluated by Cirrus HD-OCT-A, Zeiss. Nonperfusion findings and RGC layer thickness were evaluated in a 6x6 mm area centere...

Purpose The differential diagnosis between Irvine‐Gass Syndrome (IGS) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is currently established by angiography, which is an invasive and time‐consuming tool. The aim of this study is to evaluate differences in optic disc's nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in patients with macular edema associated with IGS and Diabe...

Purpose To evaluate objective findings in the ophthalmologic examination and search for patterns of association with the clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with Sicca Syndrome (SiS). Methods Cross‐sectional study of 80 eyes of 80 patients with SiS divided into four groups. 20 patients with pSS for more than 10 years (group1), 20 p...

Purpose The new approach of Micro invasive Glaucoma Surgery, XEN Gel Stent is made of soft collagen and it is introduced by a corneal incision, trough the anterior chamber angle and it stands under the conjunctiva space. To study the bleb macroscopic morphology with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography and correlate it with the clinical ev...

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare macroscopic and microscopic morphological features of functioning filtering blebs after XEN Gel Stent (XEN) implantation and trabeculectomy. Methods Prospective, observational case-control study of 10 eyes submitted to XEN implantation, 10 eyes submitted to trabeculectomy and 11 control eye...

Purpose To establish the efficacy and safety of an Ab Interno Collagen Stent (AICS) in combination with subconjunctival Mitomycin C (MMC) in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG), in the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), hypotensive treatment (HT) and progression on structural retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) exams. Methods Prospective, n...

Purpose This study was design to examine the correlation between retinal and choroidal thickness in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. Methods 125 type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. Retinal total thickness and retinal layer automatic segmentation were assessed by us...

Purpose: To present a retrospective study of the postoperative astigmatism in patients with DSAEK with a determination of anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism. Methods: A retrospective study of corneal astigmatism of 80 eyes of 73 patients with Fuchs Dystrophy submitted to DSAEK was performed. Postoperative total astigmatism, posterior and a...

Purpose The authors intend to present an analysis and comparison of the choroidal thickness in more distant superior regions. Choroidal thickness is increased in a heterogeneous pattern superiorly to the fovea in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. Methods Observational case‐control study of 60 eyes of 60 patients with diabetes mellitu...

Purpose To evaluate the thickness of macular retina and determine which retinal layers are most affected by retrochiasmal visual pathways lesions. Methods Mean retinal thickness utilizing automated intraretinal layer segmentation of spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans was performed in 40 eyes of 40 patients with retrochiasmal visual...

Purpose To present a comparison of the thickness variation of the different retinal layers in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. Methods A prospective observational study was performed. 175 eyes of 175 patients: 125 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy and 50 subjects without diabetes (age and gender matched) from the ophtha...

Purpose The choroidal circulation receives nearly 95% of ocular blood flow and it is essential for a normal retinal structure and function. Recently, several clinical studies showed a variation in choroidal thickness ( CT ) even before the presence of diabetic retinopathy ( DR ), which the meaning remains uncertain and questionable. Our objective w...

Purpose The choroidal circulation receives nearly 95% of ocular blood flow and it is essential for a normal retinal structure and function. Recently, several clinical studies showed a variation in choroidal thickness ( CT ) even before the presence of diabetic retinopathy ( DR ), which the meaning remains uncertain and questionable. Our objective w...

Purpose Diabetes Mellitus is associated with changes in refractive parameters. Some aspects already studied were the corneal biomechanics and lens thickness. Although, the discussion about anterior chamber angle and depth is still open. The author objective was to analyze and correlate the anterior chamber depth, lens vault and lens thickness with...

Purpose Diabetes Mellitus is associated with changes in refractive parameters. Some aspects already studied were the corneal biomechanics and lens thickness. Although, the discussion about anterior chamber angle and depth is still open. The author objective was to analyze and correlate the anterior chamber depth, lens vault and lens thickness with...

Purpose: To present a comparison of the thickness variation of the different retinal layers in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed. 175 eyes of 175 patients: 125 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy and 50 subjects without diabetes (age and gender matched) from the ophth...

Purpose: The authors intend to present an analysis and comparison of the choroidal thickness in more distant superior regions. Choroidal thickness is increased in a heterogeneous pattern superiorly to the fovea in diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Observational case-control study of 60 eyes of 60 patients with diabetes mellit...

Purpose: The authors present a case-report of a patient with a high voltage electrical burn with cataract formation. Setting: Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal Methods: A 59 years old male patient was referred to the Ophthalmology outpatient clinic with presbyopia complaints. He had suffered a high-voltage electrical burn 15 years...

Purpose: The authors present a case of a patient with anterior lens subluxation submitted to iris fixated AC IOL implantation after trauma with eyeglasses. Setting: Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal Methods: A 40 years old patient who suffered a penetrating corneoscleral eye injury that was initially sutured developed a traumatic...