Ophthalmol Ther DOI 10.1007/s40123-017-0097-3 CASE REPORT Demodex Blepharitis Treated with a Novel Dilute Povidone-Iodine and DMSO System: A Case Report Jesse S. Pelletier . Kara Capriotti . Kevin S. Stewart . Joseph A. Capriotti Received: May 9, 2017 Ó The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication ABSTRACT pathognomonic features consistent with Demo- dex infection, and this diagnosis was confirmed Introduction: Povidone-iodine aqueous solu- with microscopy. Previous traditional therapies tion is an antiseptic commonly used in oph- had been ineffective at controlling her signs and thalmology for treatment of the ocular surface. symptoms. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is a well-known skin Conclusion: The topical PVP-I/DMSO system penetration enhancer that is scarcely utilized in was effective at treating the signs and symptoms ophthalmic drug formulations. We describe of Demodex blepharitis. Further investigation of here a low-dose formulation of 0.25% PVP-I in a the novel agent is warranted. gel containing DMSO for the treatment of Demodex blepharitis. Keywords: Blepharitis; Demodex; Infection; Case Report: A 95-year-old female presented Inflammation; Ocular surface with chronic blepharitis involving both the anterior and posterior eyelid margins. The anterior eyelid margins demonstrated INTRODUCTION Enhanced content To view enhanced content for this Demodex is a well-recognized but often over- article go to http://www.medengine.com/Redeem/ DB98F06055962F5F. looked cause of chronic blepharitis and is implicated in ocular rosacea [1–7]. It is descri- J. S. Pelletier (&) bed as a translucent, eight-legged arachnid, and Ocean Ophthalmology Group, N. Miami Beach, FL, is the most common ectoparasite found on the USA human skin. Although prevalent in asymp- e-mail: [email protected] tomatic patients, rates of infestation with De- J. S. Pelletier Á K. S. Stewart Á J. A. Capriotti modex increase with age, nearing 100% by 70 Plessen Ophthalmology Consultants, PO Box 910, years old [8]. Infection in humans is brought Christiansted, USVI, USA about by two distinct species, Demodex follicu- lorum and Demodex brevis. The former is typi- J. S. Pelletier Á K. Capriotti Á K. S. Stewart Á J. A. Capriotti cally found in lash follicles and manifests as Veloce BioPharma LLC Fort Lauderdale, Fort anterior blepharitis, while the latter—which is Lauderdale, FL, USA smaller in size—more commonly infects the sebaceous glands, causing posterior blepharitis, K. Capriotti Bryn Mawr Skin and Cancer Institute, Rosemont, meibomian gland disease, and keratoconjunc- PA, USA tivitis. Besides the identifiable signs of Ophthalmol Ther demodicosis, it has been reported that De- posterior eyelid margins revealed mild meibo- modex-infested patients may experience dis- mian inspissation with capping. Secretions were turbing ocular surface symptoms which can be slightly thickened, but not turbid. There were enumerated by ocular surface disease index no mucocutaneous or marginal telangiectasias. scoring [9]. Both species of mite are capable of Conjunctival examination showed mild, diffuse inducing inflammation in a variety of direct injection, and corneal examination was positive ways, including destruction of epithelial cells, for scattered inferior punctate corneal erosions claw-related trauma, and mechanical obstruc- and a decreased tear break-up time. A diagnosis tion of glands [10]. Indirectly, Demodex spp. of Demodex blepharitis was made. To confirm may serve as a vector transporting bacteria to the diagnosis, epilation of the affected eyelashes deep eyelid structures and a stimulant to the was performed and examined with 259 micro- host immune system. Also, reaction to the scopy according to published protocols [22]. chitin exoskeleton has been implicated in Visual confirmation of Demodex was achieved. granuloma and chronic chalazia formation The patient was then prescribed a proprietary [11, 12]. Successful treatment of Demodex mites formulation of a topical gel consisting of 0.25% has reportedly been achieved topically with tea PVP-I in a dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle tree oil and systemically with ivermectin or prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy. metronidazole [13–16]. The treatment was administered twice daily and Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is a potent antisep- administered by rubbing the gel with the finger tic that is commonly utilized in ophthalmology directly onto the lash line while the eye was for ocular surface pretreatment prior to invasive closed. The instructions were specific: to keep surgical procedures [17–19]. It is lesser known, the eye closed and apply the drug to the lash however, that PVP-I has historic utility in the surface from the skin side. At the first follow-up treatment of camelid demodicosis [20]. We visit, one week later, there were remarkable previously reported that a dilute PVP-I and improvements in both patient signs and symp- DMSO system was useful in the treatment of toms. Most prominently, the seven foci of rosacea blepharoconjunctivitis [21]. We report cylindrical collarettes of the right eye and five here the use of a dilute 0.25% povidone-iodine on the left eye were no longer present (Fig. 1b). gel in a DMSO solvent gel for the treatment of a There was one remaining cylindrical dandruff case of Demodex blepharitis. focus on the left lower eyelid. A few punctate corneal erosions and a decreased TBUT remained, but the patient reported a remarkable CASE REPORT improvement in ocular itching and irritation. At one month, the changes to the anterior Informed consent was obtained from the eyelid were preserved, the corneal punctate patient prior to the publication of this case erosions were no longer present, and the pos- report. A 95-year-old pseudophakic female pre- terior eyelid meibum was less viscous. The sented to our clinic complaining of a long-s- patient endorsed facile utilization of the medi- tanding history of ocular pruritus, dry eye, cine with clear application instructions, and irritation, and eyelid crusting, for which she there were no reported adverse events. used only artificial tears and lid compresses without improvement. Treatment with tea tree oil or steroid/antibiotic combination medicines DISCUSSION was not attempted. Slit lamp biomicroscopic examination It is understood that Demodex infestation plays revealed mild bilateral anterior eyelid erythema an etiologic role in chronic blepharitis. and multiple cylindrical collarettes found at the Although the scope of blepharitis includes base of the upper and lower lid eyelashes anterior, posterior, and mixed phenotypes, only (Fig. 1a). There was no lash breakage, madarosis, the presence of cylindrical dandruff is consid- poliosis, or misdirection. Inspection of the ered pathognomonic for Demodex infestation Ophthalmol Ther Fig. 1a–b Images of the patient with Demodex blepharitis treated with dilute PVP-I/DMSO. Note the cylindrical collarettes at the base of the lashes prior to treatment (a), and the absence of findings 1 week later (b) [23]. Other ocular manifestations of Demodex and sebum content may play a role in disease may include keratitis, marginal infiltrates, con- expression. For instance, in those who harbor junctivitis, and blepharoconjunctivitis. De- Demodex but show little inflammation, the deep, modex is also isolated successfully from normal ensconced location of the mite within the eyelid human subjects, and therefore a commensal may create a safe harbor from host innate immu- role for the mite is plausible. The evidence nity. An eventual inciting event, activating a supporting its importance in maintaining ocu- delayed hypersensitivity cascade, may facilitate lar ecology revolves around the ability of De- the development of inflammatory skin condi- modex to control bacterial populations, impose tions such as rosacea. There is also a relationship its own bacterial microflora, and outcompete between rosacea and the presence of Demodex other mites [24]. The current preferred treat- mites carrying the bacteria Bacillus oleronius,a ment agent for infection is tea tree oil or its Gram-negative, nonmotile endospore-forming active component, terpinen-4-ol. Both have rod [29]. Studies have found that multiple anti- demonstrated efficacy as a demodicidal agent genic proteins produced by the bacteria are par- in vivo and in vitro [13, 14, 25]. While these ticularly immunogenic and proinflammatory agents are useful, reports of local hypersensi- [28, 30]. Finally, Demodex may harbor other tivity reactions and persistent mite survival do pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus and Sta- exist [14, 26]. Other traditional mite therapies phylococcus spp., whose superantigens have also designed to trap or suffocate Demodex have been been implicated in rosacea [31]. shown to be ineffective, perhaps due to the We have reported the first successful treat- minimal aerobic requirements of the arachnid ment of mixed blepharitis secondary to De- or the robust nature of its exoskeleton. In one modex with a dilute PVP-I/DMSO gel system. report, Demodex was found to be resistant to Similar success with a dilute PVP-I/DMSO agent both 75% alcohol and 10% PVP-I [14]. in a case of rosacea blepharoconjunctivitis has Our current understanding of Demodex and its been reported [21]. This is not surprising given relation to the human skin is evolving. Demodex the potential overlap between both conditions. has been implicated in not only chronic ble- The result is surprising given that more con- pharitis but also other dermatological inflamma- centrated 10% PVP-I