[Intratarsal triamcinolone acetonide injection for treatment of refractory chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC): experience at Aristide-Le-Dantec university hospital in Dakar].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of intratarsal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection versus dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC).


METHODS
This one-year prospective study enrolled 20 patients with refractory TELC. One millilitre containing 40 mg TA was injected intratarsally on the most affected eye and dexamethasone ointment applied in the fellow eye. Efficacy was judged by clinical criteria according to a specially designed scale for the study. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's chi(2) test and Student's t test with comparisons of the means of paired samples.


RESULTS
In both cases, symptoms improved in all patients, as early as the following day or week, and clinical signs improved from the second week through the first month after injection, with an effective dose of 1 mL TA and three weeks of dexamethasone, with no recurrence at three months. Efficacy of the ointment alone was less (33.3-75%) than that with injection (90.9-100%) and could only be maintained after the first month by repeated application.


CONCLUSIONS
Intratarsal TA injection, relatively easy and well-tolerated by patients, may be a better alternative to dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory TELC.
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Aristide-Le-Dantec, 30, avenue Pasteur, BP 3001, Dakar, Sénégal. pauleaida@gmail.com
P A
PA
Ndoye Roth
J
J
Ngatcho Hemo
A M
AM
Wane Khouma
E H A
EH
Ba
A S
AS
Sow
A M
AM
Ka
M R
MR
Ndiaye
A
A
Wade
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005143:Eyelids; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands; D012675:Senegal; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D003913:Dextroamphetamine