Expert's Corner

 

 

Ask the Founder


VBF Announces "Ask The VBF Founder." Linda Rozell-Shannon is the leading lay expert (non doctor) in the world on the subject of vascular birthmarks.

 

Babies with Birthmarks™

Our newest program - guidelines for physicians to follow to diagnose and treat vascular birthmarks with the earliest intervention.

Recent Medical Papers and Research

New Research Out of Boston


Dynamic Cooling Paper by Dr. Nelson and Wangcun Jia


Arterio-venous Malformations Powerpoint Presentation


PWS paper by Dr. Mihm and L. Rozell-Shannon


SWS Glaucoma Facts by L. Rozell-Shannon and Dr. Fay

Test for Birthmarks

Psychosocial and Emotional Issues for Individuals with a Port Wine Stain

Simple things you can do to manage KTS (Dr. Delfanian and Linda Shannon)

Ulcer Care and Treatment (pdf)

Jaskra i Syndrom Sturge Webera- kilka faktów, które powinni Panstwo znac. (Glaucoma and Sturge Weber Syndrome SWS)
Tekst autorstwa Lindy Rozell-Shannon, MS, Prezydent i zalozycielka Fundacji Zmian Naczyniakowych Vascular Birthmarks Foundation „VBF“ (www.birthmark.org). Redakcja medyczna przez Dr. Aaron Fay czolowego specjaliste okuliste w VBF.


Glównym zadaniem tego artykulu bylo zebranie najwazniejszych danych dla osób z jaskra, która jest najwiekszym problemem oczu przy Syndromie Sturge Webera (SWS). Zauwaz: SWS jest stanem, na który skladaja sie 3 komponenty: malformacja naczyniakowa badz plama oka, skóry i centralnego systemu nerwowego. Moga miec Panstwo problem oczu, nawet jaskre ale nie miec SWS.

- Jaskra jest najpowazniejszym problemem oczu przy SWS, z zachorowalnoscia 30-70%. Zdefiniowana jest jako wzrastajace cisnienie oczne, które powoduje zmiany patologiczne na tarczy nerwu wzrokowego i charakterystyczne problemy w polu widzenia.
- Powodem wzrastajacego cisnienia oka (jaskra) moze byc rezultat zarówno blokada przeplywu wywolana malformacja naczyniowa we frontowej czesci oka, naczyniówki badz podwyzszone cisnienie zylne polaczone z malformacja naczyniakowa/plamka nadtwardowki.
- Problemy z oczami majacych Syndrom Sturge-Webera i/badz plamke wino porto ale bez SWS jest zazwyczaj rezultatem malformacji naczyniowej badz plamy spojówki (delikatny obszar wypelniajacy powieki), nadtwardowki (biala tkanka galki ocznej), siatkówki (wewnetrzna wysciólka badz membrana galki ocznej) i naczyniówki ( czesc, która dostarcza krew do siatkówki. To sa warunki, które wywieraja wplyw na samo oko. Mozliwe jest tez wystapienie powiekszenia powieki wynikajace z plamy naczyniakowej zwane przerostem, hipertrofia tkankowa. Przerost ten moze ale nie musi oddzialywac na funkcje oka. Przerost tkanki moze powodowac znaczacy astygmatyzm i oslabienie wzroku. Podsumowujac, sa dwa typy problemów z oczami: te które oddzialuja na funkcje i zdrowie oczu, i te które oddzialuja na tkanki oczne (i moga ale nie musza dawac rezultatów pod postacia problemów funkcjonalnych oka).
- Wiekszosc lekarzy oczu (oftalmologow, okulistów) i ekspertów od zmian naczyniakowych zgadzaja sie, iz problem oczu moze wystapic w przypadku gdy plama naczyniowa znajduje sie na powiece.
- Stan, w którym objete choroba oko moze miec ciemniejszy kolor teczówki (heterochromia) moze wystepowac u osób z Syndromwm Sturge-Webera.
- Jak wynika z raportów róznych specjalistów prawie 50% wszystkich noworodków zdiagnozowanych z plamka wino porto na powiece wystapilo ryzyko jaskry. W przypadku gdy jest to górna powieka zagrozenie SWS jest najwyzsze.
- Jaskra polaczona z SWS zazwyczaj dotyka tylko jedno oko. W bardzo niewielu przypadkach moze dotknac obu oczu.
- Osoby z zmianami naczyniowymi na górnej i/badz dolnej powiece ale nie majace jaskry nadal sa zagrozone pózniejszym atakiem choroby. Moze to nastapic w póznym dziecinstwie badz w okresie doroslosci.

60% przypadków z SWS i jaskra zdiagnozowanych jest juz we wczesnych stadiach (gdy oko jest wrazliwe efekty rozciagajace wzrastajacego cisnienia ocznego-jaskra). Noworodki te moga miec powiekszona srednice rogówki i krótkowzrocznosc (istotne powiekszenie oka zwane Buphthalmos). U pozostalych 40% przypadków choroba zaczyna sie pózniej, w okresie dziecinstwa badz wczesnego okresu doroslosci. W takim tez przypadku zazwyczaj nie nastepuje powiekszenie oka.

- Wiekszosc lekarzy zgadza sie, iz kontrola jaskry przy SWS jest ciezka. Konieczne jest ciagle zazywanie leków przeciwko jaskrze a czasami równiez potencjalnym leków przeciwko ogólnoustrojowym skutkom ubocznym jak równiez czesto wielorazowe zabiegi chirurgiczne.
- Niemowleta jak i male dzieci z jaskra u których obecne jest równiez zacmienie rogówki, które jest skutkiem wysokiego cisnienia wynikajacego ze wzrastajacego przeplywu krwi, rzadko reaguje adekwatnie do branych przez dluzszy czas lekarstw przeciwko jaskrze. Dla tej grupy wiekowej lekarstwa sa czesto wspomagane operacjami. Starsi pacjenci zazwyczaj moga byc leczeni wylacznie lekarstwami.
- W leczenie SWS powinien zawsze byc zaangazowany lekarz okulista, który jest specjalista od jaskry, obeznany z tym syndromem.

Kontrola jaskry przy SWS polega na kombinacji terapii lekarstwami z operacjami. Zazywanie roznego typu leków przeciwko jaskrze przez cale zycie jak i powtarzajace sie zabiegi chirurgiczne sa norma. Przemysl farmakologiczny ciagle ulepsza srodki przeciwko jaskrze , które maja coraz mniej skutków ubocznych. Dodatkowo, nowe metody chirurgiczne polepszenia sukcesu filtracji operacji; przez sam rozwój procedur chirurgicznych do zmniejszenia cisnienia w zylach nadtwardowki polepszy znaczaco kierownictwo nad komplikacjami zwiazanymi z problemami oczu i SWS.

Referencje:
Cheng, Kenneth P., MD “Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Sturge-Weber Syndrome”
From Sturge-Weber Syndrome, edited by John B. Bodensteiner, MD. 1999. (Sturge Weber Syndrome Foundation).
Bodensteiner, John B., MD “Sturge-Weber Syndrome” From Facial Plastic Surgery Clinis of North America. Volume 9, Number 4, November 2001, as edited by Dr. Marcelo Hochman.
Mulliken, John B., MD and Young, Anthonly E., MD. Vascular Birthmarks: Hemangiomas and Malformations. WB Saunders Company. 1988.

Kwiecien 2005

Glaucoma and Sturge Weber Syndrome – Some Facts You Should Know

By Linda Rozell-Shannon, MS, President and Founder of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (www.birthmark.org). Medical Editing by Dr. Aaron Fay of the Mass. Eye and Ear and VBF’s leading eye specialist.

The purpose of this article is to provide some plain-language facts for individuals affected by glaucoma, which is the most serious eye problem of Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS). Note: SWS is a condition that involves 3 components: vascular malformation or stain of the eye, skin, and the central nervous system. You can have eye problems, even glaucoma, and not have SWS.

· Glaucoma is the most common serious eye problem of SWS, with a reported incidence of 30-70%. It is defined as an increase in intraocular pressure which causes pathological changes in the optic disk and typical defects in the field of vision.

· The reason for this increased eye pressure (glaucoma) may be the result of either the outflow obstruction by a vascular malformation of the front area of the eye, the choroid or elevated venous pressure associated with an episcleral vascular malformation/stain.

· Eye problems for individuals with Sturge-Weber Syndrome and/or a Port Wine Stain but NO Sturge Weber Syndrome is usually a result of a vascular malformation or stain of the conjunctiva (delicate area that lines eyelids), episclera (white eyeball tissue), retina (an inner lining or membrane of the eyeball) and choroid, (area that furnishes blood to the retina). These are conditions that affect the eye itself. There can also be eyelid enlargement from a vascular stain, called tissue hypertrophy. This hypertrophy may or may not affect the function of the eye. Tissue hypertrophy can cause a significant astigmatism and visual impairment. So, there are two types of eye problems, those that affect the function and health of the eye, and those that affect the tissue around that eye (and may or may not result in functional problems for the eye).

· Most eye physicians (ophthalmologists) and vascular birthmark experts agree that an eye problem can occur if there is a vascular stain on the eyelids.

· A condition where the involved eye can have a darker colored iris (Heterochromia) may occur in Sturge-Weber Syndrome individuals.

· Various experts’ report that nearly 50% of all infants diagnosed with a port wine stain on the eyelid will be at risk for glaucoma. Involvement of the upper eyelid has the highest association with SWS.

· Glaucoma associated with SWS usually affects only one eye, but in rare cases can affect both eyes.

· Individuals with upper and/or lower eyelid involvement but no glaucoma are still at risk for late-onset glaucoma. It can occur in late childhood or adulthood.

· 60% of the glaucoma in SWS cases is diagnosed in early infancy (when the eye is susceptible to the stretching effects of increased intraocular pressure---glaucoma). These infants can have enlarged corneal diameters and myopia (actual eye enlargement called Buphthalmos). For the other 40%, glaucoma begins later in childhood or early adulthood. When it is late onset, there is usually no eye enlargement.

· Most doctors agree that the management of glaucoma associated with SWS is difficult. Lifelong anti-glaucoma drugs with a potential for systemic side effects are frequently needed and often multiple surgical procedures are needed.

· Infants and young children with glaucoma who present with corneal clouding, which is due to the high pressure from the increase in blood flow, seldom respond adequately to the antiglaucoma medications over a long period of time. Thus, for this age group, medication is usually combined with surgery. Older patients can usually be managed with medication alone.

· Treatment of SWS should always involve an ophthalmologic physician who is a glaucoma expert and is familiar with this syndrome. Eye exams should be conducted under anesthesia and performed at least every six months.

· The management of glaucoma in SWS relies on a combination of drug therapy and surgery. The lifelong use of multiple types of antiglaucoma medications and repeated surgical procedures is the norm. The drug industry is continually improving antiglaucoma medications, with fewer systemic side effects. Additionally, new surgical approaches to improve the success of filtration surgery; along with the development of surgical procedures to lower episcleral venous pressure will greatly improve the management of complications associated with eye problems and SWS.

REFERENCES:

Cheng, Kenneth P., MD “Ophthalmologic Manifestations of Sturge-Weber Syndrome”
From Sturge-Weber Syndrome, edited by John B. Bodensteiner, MD. 1999. (Sturge Weber Syndrome Foundation).

Bodensteiner, John B., MD “Sturge-Weber Syndrome” From Facial Plastic Surgery Clinis of North America. Volume 9, Number 4, November 2001, as edited by Dr. Marcelo Hochman.

Mulliken, John B., MD and Young, Anthonly E., MD. Vascular Birthmarks: Hemangiomas and Malformations. WB Saunders Company. 1988.

April 2005

Parent's
Corner



Information for Parents

DOA Logo
Don't Forget!
Every Day is a Day of Awareness for VBF!
Visit the VBF International Day of Awareness Website:
birthmark.org/awareness


Good Search

What if the VBF earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Now it can! GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine, with a unique social mission... every time you use GoodSearch, money is generated to support the mission of VBF. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation as the charity you want to support. The more people who use this site, the more money we'll earn so please spread the word! Go to http://www.goodsearch.com

If you think your child has a hemangioma Click Here...
hemangioma
If you think you or your child has a port wine stain Click Here...
Before and after of port wine stain
If you think you or your child has a venous malformation Click Here...
Before and after of venous malformation

Chapters of the VBF

VBF
VBF Europe
VBF Spain
VBF Peru
VBF Latin American
VBF New Zealand
VBF Australia
VBF India
VBF Africa
VBF Asia
VBF Poland
VBF Philippines
VBF Vietnam
Sturge-Weber Syndrome Community
SWSC-Canada

Partners

Anomalie Vasculaire Site for French speakers worldwide, and friend of VBF that offers support and information about vascular birthmarks


Publications for Parents:

  • VBF Vascular Birthmarks Brochure - Download and Print - A comprehensive brochure describing all vascular birthmark types, syndromes and treatment options. To print, click here (you will need the Acrobat Reader to view and print this document).
  • Doctor Visit Survey Have you been seen by a doctor to assess a vascular birthmark? Please click here and complete our survey. This survey will be used to provide feedback to the doctors about the information and treatment they provide to families affected by a vascular birthmark. Complete your survey and mail to Corinne Barinaga, VBF Director of Information Services, 17309 NE 29th St., Vancourver, WA 98682.
  • Before you visit, email, or speak to a birthmark specialist, be sure to read our Checklist for Parents!
  • Dr. Rosen's Vascular Birthmark Information for Parents
  • Simple things you can do to manage KTS (Dr. Delfanian and Linda Shannon)

You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to open and print the pdf documents. If you do not already have it installed, you can find it here.

You will need Microsoft's Word to open and print the Word Documents.

RECRUITING SUBJECTS FOR A RESEARCH STUDY ON FACIAL BIRTHMARKS