from general surgery and otolaryngology, and colleagues from
benefit from teprotumumab; at U-M these complex patients are
adult and pediatric endocrinology, nuclear medicine, and
supported by a team involving ophthalmologists, endocrinolo-
neuroradiology.
gists, thyroid surgeons, and nuclear medicine specialists,”
Cross-disciplinary dialog is especially important in the era of teprotumumab (Tepezza), the first and only FDA-approved
says Dr. Kim, who coordinates the conferences. “Our patients appreciate that so many providers are involved in their care.”
treatment specific for TED. Originally formulated as a cancer
An ongoing series of virtual multi-disciplinary teaching
treatment, the drug was translated for use in TED by Kellogg
conferences is also helping Kellogg providers share best practices
endocrinologist Terry Smith, M.D.
in the diagnosis and treatment of orbital disorders with col-
“Patients with moderate to severe Thyroid Eye Disease can
leagues in the departments of plastic surgery and otolaryngology.
COVID-19 Transmission Risk in Cornea Transplantation In 2020, researchers studying COVID-19 transmission identified the virus in conjunctival swabs and tears collected from infected This finding prompted a study led by Kellogg cornea transplant surgeon Shahzad Mian, M.D., in conjunction with Eversight Eye Bank and Wayne State University to address COVID-19 related concerns that could impact cornea transplantation. The study was funded by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)
“
through a program targeting issues arising from the spread of COVID-19. “Since COVID-19 patients
WITH MORE THAN 5 MILLION
PEOPLE WORLDWIDE LOSING THEIR
SIGHT FROM CORNEAL DISEASE, WE NEED
it’s policy of not transplanting
TO DO ALL WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE CORNEA
cornea tissue that comes from
“
patients.
donors with any of these 3 char-
DONATION AND MAXIMIZE THE GLOBAL
hold much of the virus in the upper respiratory tract, we were not surprised
acteristics. The addition of both donor screening and postmor-
SUPPLY OF DONOR TISSUE.
that the virus could also contaminate
— Shahzad Mian, M.D.
the outer layers of the eye, via coughing, sneezing or hand-to-eye contact,” says Dr. Mian, Kellogg’s Vice Chair for Clinical Sciences and Learning. “Our study focused on the consequences of that finding for cornea transplantation.” Dr. Mian’s team analyzed postmortem ocular tissue samples
tem nasopharyngeal PCR testing for COVID-19 might enable the use of corneas from donors in these subgroups. “With more than 5 million
people worldwide losing their sight from
corneal disease, we need to do all we can to
encourage cornea donation and maximize the global supply of donor tissue.”
from three donor subgroups whose tissues were disqualified
Despite the pandemic, Dr. Mian reinforces the safety of
from surgical use: 1) intended cornea donors who died from
cornea transplantation. “Even though cornea tissue can contain
COVID-19; 2) potential donors who were asymptomatic but
the virus, there have been no cases of transmission through
tested positive at time of corneal recovery; and 3) potential do-
corneal transplantation,” he says. “In the rare instances where
nors who exhibited symptoms prior to death but tested negative
a donor who was positive for COVID-19 was inadvertently
for the virus.
transplanted it has not resulted in infection. Nonetheless,
Approximately 13 percent of the ocular tissue samples
additional research is needed.”
tested positive for COVID-19. The EBAA has thus continued 7