Diabetic Disk New Vessels—Correction

138

AMERICAN JOURNAL O F OPHTHALMOLOGY

Pemphigoid Related to Epinephrine Treatment Editor: T h e article, "Induced ocular pseudop e m p h i g o k l " (Am. J . Ophthalmol. 8 2 : 272,

1976),

by

J . T.

Patten,

H. D.

Cavanagh, and M . R . Allansmith, reports the first cases o f echothiophate iodide (Phospholine Iodide) induced pemphigoid. T h e authors claim this is the first report o f apparent induction o f ocular cicatricial pemphigoid caused by topically applied medication. In 1 9 7 4 , Kristensen and a s s o c i a t e s described 2 9 eyes with pemphigoid, o f which no less than 1 4 had been given epinephrine eyedrops for some time. W e concluded that topically applied epinephrine might contribute to the development of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. O n e patient had been given epinephrine for five years before the 0 . 2 5 % echothiophate iodide was used. I believe interest should not only b e focused on echothiophate iodide but especially on epinephrine. 1-3

1 - 3

M.

S. NORN, M . D .

Copenhagen,

Denmark

REFERENCES 1. Kristensen, E . B., and Norn, M . S.: Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. 1. Secretion of mucus and tears. Acta Ophthalmol. 52:266, 1974. 2. Norn, M . S., and Kristensen, E . B.: Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. 2. Cytology. Acta Ophthalmol. 52:282, 1974. 3. Andersen, S. Ry, Jensen, O. A., Kristensen, E . B., and Nom, M . S.: Benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. 3. Biopsy Acta Ophthalmol. 52:455, 1974.

Reply Norn and associates did point out that 1 4 o f their 2 9 patients with pemphigoid had received epinephrine. W e did not include their observations as they did not detail how much epineph-

JANUARY, 1977

rine had been received, over what period, to which or both eyes, what other medications were given, nor did they build a circumstantial case for topical epinephrine therapy as a cause o f pemphigoid. Perhaps we should have included a reference to their fine article as it would have served to emphasize further that some cases o f pemphigoid may b e related to drug usage. T h e s e letters may serve to emphasize the point. MATHEA R . ALLANSMITH, M . D . JAMES T. PATTEN, M . D . H . D W I G H T CAVANAGH, M . D .

Boston,

Massachusetts

Diabetic Disk New Vessels—Correction Editor: In our article, " T e c h n i q u e s o f argon laser photocoagulation o f diabetic disk new vessels" (Am. J . Ophthalmol. 82:675-683,

1 9 7 6 ) , there is an error on

page 6 7 6 . I n the paragraph headed "Feeder-frond photocoagulation combined with P R P (panretinal photocoagulation)," the statement, " T h e lesions were placed within 0 . 5 disk diameter o f one another," is incorrect. It should read as follows: " T h e lesions were placed within a 0 . 5 lesion diameter o f one another." HUNTER L .LITTLE, M . D . H. CHRISTIAN ZWENG. M . D . R O B E R T L . JACK, M . D . ARTHUR VASSILIADIS, P H . D .

Palo Alto,

California

Correction The report, "Oxford Ophthalmological Congress 1976" (Am J. Ophthalmol. 82:505,1976), incorrectly named C. A. Brown of Bristol as financial secretary, Instead, it should be noted that Ian A. R. Brown of Shreswbury was named financial secretary. Our apologies to both.