To describe a nonsurgical treatment for superficial corneal epithelial inclusion cysts (CEICs) in dogs and to characterize their clinical and diagnostic features using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Interstitial Cystitis, mostly affecting middle-aged women, has been rarely associated with Sjögren's syndrome. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with painful micturition, pollakiuria, lower abdominal pain, and urinary urgency. In addition, the patient exhibited xerostomia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and leukopenia. The cystoscopy and pathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis. Subsequent testing revealed a positive antinuclear antibody, leading to referral to the department of Rheumatology and Immunology for a labial gland biopsy, which resulted in a diagnosis of primary Sjogren's Syndrome. This case highlights the association between Sjögren's syndrome and interstitial cystitis, emphasizing the need for clinicians to maintain a suspicion for systemic autoimmune disorder when encountering patients with recurrent urinary tract symptoms without any other identifiable underlying cause.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that can involve the ocular surface and deeper ocular tissues, leading to a spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations ranging from dry eye disease to vision-threatening inflammation, such as scleritis and peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK). This paper presents the results of a narrative review conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar from database inception to March 2026. Eligible publications describing clinical features and management of RA-associated ocular disease were synthesized, and no unpublished data were included. According to the literature, dry eye disease (DED) is the most frequent ocular manifestation of RA, and it is primarily managed with lubrication and topical anti-inflammatory therapies, including cyclosporine and lifitegrast. Additional options for refractory disease include neurostimulation and evaporation-targeted therapy. Scleritis and PUK are less common but represent severe inflammatory complications that generally require systemic immunosuppression. Conventional management includes systemic corticosteroids and steroid-sparing agents such as methotrexate (MTX), azathioprine (AZA), cyclophosphamide (CYC), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in aggressive cases. Escalation to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), specifically tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and rituximab (RTX), is supported for refractory scleritis and corneal melt, although evidence is largely observational. Among anti-TNF agents, monoclonal antibodies, such as infliximab and adalimumab, appear more effective than etanercept for ocular inflammation. Rituximab is preferred for vasculitis-associated or refractory disease, and Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors represent an emerging option requiring careful safety monitoring. Evidence for DED therapies includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs), whereas data for RA-associated scleritis and PUK are largely derived from registries, case series, and case reports. Prospective studies with standardized ocular outcomes are needed to refine treatment algorithms and compare the effectiveness of biologic versus targeted synthetic agents.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, resulting in xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Beyond glandular involvement, systemic manifestations, particularly pulmonary complications, significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality in affected individuals. Pulmonary complications in SS range broadly, encompassing interstitial lung conditions, airway inflammation, nodular formations, cystic abnormalities, and pulmonary hypertension. Diagnosis relies on high-resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and, in selected cases, histopathologic evaluation. We describe the cases of two patients with primary SS presenting with distinct pulmonary findings: one with an incidental pulmonary nodule and the other with organizing pneumonia on a background of cellular non-specific interstitial pneumonia. These presentations illustrate the clinical heterogeneity and diagnostic complexity of pulmonary involvement in SS. These cases highlight the importance of recognizing SS-related pulmonary complications, which may present subtly and require multidisciplinary evaluation. Increased awareness among healthcare providers and early diagnostic workup are essential to improve patient outcomes.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder primarily affecting exocrine glands, characterized by dry mouth (xerostomia) and dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). However, systemic manifestations, including pulmonary complications, are increasingly recognized. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but life-threatening presentation of SS, typically associated with vasculitis or coagulation abnormalities. We report the case of a 19-year-old male presenting with dyspnea and hemoptysis, later diagnosed with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Initial clinical assessment revealed respiratory failure with low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia), bilateral ground-glass opacities on chest computed tomography (CT), and iron-storing macrophages (hemosiderin-laden) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, consistent with DAH. Subsequent autoimmune serology confirmed positivity for anti-Ro/Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A autoantibodies (SSA) and anti-La/Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen B autoantibodies (SSB), while other autoimmune markers, including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), were negative. Labial salivary gland biopsy demonstrated focal lymphocytic sialadenitis, confirming pSS according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Treatment involved high-dose corticosteroids, leading to complete resolution of symptoms and significant improvement in imaging results. The patient remained stable at follow-up. DAH should be considered a potential presentation of pSS, even in the absence of classical symptoms. Increased awareness of this rare complication can facilitate early diagnosis and improve outcomes.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, with approximately 10%-20% of patients developing concurrent immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Recent studies suggest the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome - associated immune thrombocytopenia (pSS-ITP) may involve dysregulated TLR7 signaling, B-cell hyperactivation, and autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction. Beyond conventional therapies (e.g., glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG]), emerging treatments have garnered increasing attention, including thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), B-cell-targeted therapies, and mTOR inhibitors. Predictive models incorporating bone marrow megakaryocyte counts and autoantibody profiles may facilitate individualized treatment selection. Future multicenter clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of novel agents and to explore biomarker-guided precision therapy. This review systematically summarizes the pathophysiological mechanisms of pSS- ITP, synthesizes current clinical treatment strategies, and highlights key biomarkers with potential implications for therapeutic response, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for optimizing individualized therapeutic regimens.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), caused by Leishmania infantum, is a multisystemic disease in which ocular involvement is frequent but often underestimated. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the clinical, ophthalmological, parasitological, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological alterations in dogs naturally infected with L. infantum from an endemic area of northeastern Brazil, with special emphasis on the relationship between ocular manifestations and systemic disease. Twenty-five symptomatic dogs were evaluated through clinical and ophthalmological examinations, parasitological culture, PCR, laboratory analyses, and histopathology of ocular and periocular tissues. Ocular alterations were observed in 80% of the animals, predominantly bilateral and frequently associated with multiple concurrent lesions, including ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, uveitis, and corneal opacity. Functional ophthalmological tests revealed keratoconjunctivitis sicca and corneal ulcers in a substantial proportion of dogs. Hematological abnormalities were highly prevalent, particularly anemia and thrombocytopenia. Comparative analysis demonstrated that dogs with ocular involvement exhibited significantly higher leukocyte counts and segmented neutrophils, as well as increased AST levels, indicating an enhanced systemic inflammatory response. Histopathological examination revealed intense plasmacytic inflammatory infiltrates and the presence of amastigote forms in ocular and periocular tissues, indicating that both immune-mediated and parasite-driven mechanisms could be involved in disease pathogenesis. Collectively, these findings underscore ocular involvement as a clinically relevant manifestation of CVL and reinforce the importance of routine ophthalmological evaluation in clinical management.