Progressive outer retinal necrosis after rituximab and cyclophosphamide therapy

We report a case of progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) in a patient of microscopic polyangitis (MPA), being treated with immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclophosphamide and rituximab. Her aqueous tap was positive for Varicella Zoster virus and she was treated with oral and intravitreal antivirals, along with discontinuation of one of the immunosuppressive agents, i.e. rituximab, which might have led to reactivation of the virus causing necrotizing retinitis lesions. Rituximab and cyclophosphamide are extremely potent drugs, which are necessary to manage immunological disorders such as MPA. However, they may predispose the patient to serious complications like viral infections, including PORN.

Necrosis retinal aguda vs. necrosis retinal externa progresiva: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Acute retinal necrosis vs. progressive outer retinal necrosis: case report and literature review

Se describen las características principales de la necrosis retinal aguda, la relación fisiopatológica con su principal diagnóstico diferencial, la necrosis retinal externa progresiva. Exponemos las diferencias clínicas y paraclínicas de ambas enfermedades, con base en las cuales construimos un sistema de clasificación que las contempla como un espectro continuo de enfermedad dependiente del estado inmunológico.

The main characteristics of acute retinal necrosis, the pathophysiological connection with the main differential diagnosis and progressive outer retinal necrosis are described. We analize the clinical and paraclinical differences of both diseases, based on which we built a classifi cation system that take them into a continuous spectrum dependent of the immune state.

A Case of Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis Treated by Combined Intravitreal Foscarnet and Ganciclovir

PURPOSE: To report a case of progressive outer retinal necrosis treated by combined intravitreal foscarnet and ganciclovir. CASE SUMMARY: A 11-year-old male with a history of chemotherapy and cord blood transplantation due to precursor T-cell leukemia developed Herpes zoster lesion on his forehead and rapidly progressing peripheral retinal necrosis without vasculitis in the right eye. Varicella-Zoster virus was confirmed in his cerebrospinal fluid using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the patient was diagnosed with progressive outer retinal necrosis. Despite combined treatment with intravenous acyclovir and foscarnet and intravitreal foscarnet, retinal necrosis progressed to retinal detachment and total retinal necrosis. During follow-up, new retinal necrosis was observed in his left eye. The patient was started on combined intravenous and intravitreal foscarnet and ganciclovir; retinal necrosis in the left eye regressed and posterior pole was spared. With subsequent oral valganciclovir and intravitreal foscarnet and ganciclovir, the remaining retina was preserved with maintained vision.

Unusual retinal manifestations of PORN combined complications of central retinal artery and vein occlusions / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

·AIM:To describe an unusual combination of retinal manifestations in an AIDS patient with progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN),complicated by combined central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).·METHODS:A case report.·RESULTS:The patient presented with PORN with primary optic nerve involvement complicated by combined central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO) and central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO) as a primary manifestation of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV).Aggressive treatment with intravitreal and specific systemic anti-VZV therapy,in addition to systemic highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) achieved retinal quiescence with sparing of the fellow eye.Visual outcome of the affected eye was poor.·CONCLUSION:We present the first report of PORN associated with the unusual combined complications of CRAO and CRVO. Aggressive local treatment was combined with systemic therapy,which achieved local control and empirical prophylaxis for the fellow eye.

A Case of Atypical Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis after Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

This is a report of an atypical case of progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) and the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the clinical course of viral retinitis in an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient. A 22-year-old male patient infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with unilaterally reduced visual acuity and a dense cataract. After cataract extraction, retinal lesions involving the peripheral and macular areas were found with perivascular sparing and the mud-cracked, characteristic appearance of PORN. He was diagnosed as having PORN based on clinical features and was given combined antiviral treatment. With concurrent HAART, the retinal lesions regressed, with the regression being accelerated by further treatment with intravenous acyclovir and ganciclovir. This case suggests that HAART may change the clinical course of PORN in AIDS patients by improving host immunity. PORN should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute unilateral cataract in AIDS patients.