A case of Bartonella neuroretinitis with macular star diagnosed by clinical, epidemiological, serological, and molecular data: resolution after initiation of antimicrobial therapy

Abstract The differential diagnosis of optic neuritis is broad and varied. We report the case of a 24-year-old Brazilian man who presented with five-week history of fever, malaise, myalgia, severe fatigue, tender right preauricular lymphadenopathy, and acute vision blurring associated with right optic disc swelling and exudates in a macular star pattern. His illness developed soon after an infestation of fleas broke out among his cats. Diagnosis of ocular bartonellosis was confirmed by serological and molecular analyses targeting amplification of Bartonella spp. htrA gene. Signs and symptoms only improved after initiation of antimicrobial therapy.

Syphilitic retinitis and panuveitis simulating acute retinal necrosis: case report / Retinite e panuveíte por sífilis simulando necrose aguda de retina: relato de caso

Retinitis and panuveitis in immunocompetent patients is a rare and sight-threatening disease, of difficult diagnosis. A case of a 31-year-old male who presented with unilateral placoid retinitis and panuveitis, unsuccessfully treated as acute retinal necrosis, that in fact was syphilis, with neurosyphilis and excellent response to treatment is reported.

Retinite com panuveíte em pacientes imunocompetentes é um condição rara e ameaçadora para a visão, e de difícil diagnóstico. É relatado um caso de um paciente do sexo masculino com 31 anos de idade, que se apresentou com retinite em placas e panuveíte, inicialmente tratado sem sucesso como necrose aguda de retina, que na verdade era um caso de sífilis ocular, com afecção do sistema nervoso central e ótima resposta ao tratamento sistêmico para sífilis.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis with intravitreous ganciclovir in HIV-infected children.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy, visual outcomes, and complications of intravitreous ganciclovir treatment in cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in HIV-infected children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The medical records of HIV-infected children who were screened for CMV retinitis from February 2002 to February 2005 were reviewed. The children with CD4+ < 15%, or with clinical category C would have complete ophthalmic examination every 3 months. Ganciclovir (4 mg/0.04 ml) was administered intravitreously to the eye with CMV retinitis every 2 weeks under general anaesthesia. After injection, fundi were examined immediately, 1 day, 14 days and every 2 weeks until the lesions were stable. RESULTS: Six (9 eyes) out of 45 children (13%) aged 2-12 years were found to have CMV retinitis. All CMV retinitis lesions were "cheese and ketchup like" (retinal hemorrhage and exudate) lesions and presented in the posterior pole. Bilateral CMV retinitis were found in 3 children. Intravitreous ganciclovir was injected in 4 children (5 eyes). The average number of intravitreous injections for each patient was 5.6 (3-7) times. All of the children received antiretroviral therapy and 3 children also received intravenous ganciclovir CMV retinitis lesions were improved in every eye. The visual acuity (VA) remained stable in 4 eyes, but endophthalmitis developed in one eye a few days after injection. The average duration of follow-up was 13.5 months (3-23 months). CONCLUSION: CMV retinitis was not uncommon. The authors found that intravitreous ganciclovir was effective but may cause complications. This treatment should be considered in a resource-limited setting.

Remote hypofluorescent dots in recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis on indocyanine green angiography

PURPOSE: To report the findings of indocyanine green angiography performed in patients with recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: Institutional prospective analysis of 23 eyes from 23 immunocompetent patients with recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis aged between 17 and 41 years. These patients underwent a complete ocular examination including indocyanine green angiography. RESULTS: Multiple hypofluorescent spots distant from the recurrent active lesion of retinochoroidal toxoplasmosis were found in 26.08 percent of the patients. We also found multiple hypofluorescent satellite dots in 69.56 percent of the patients. CONCLUSION: These remote dots seen suggest either a more widespread choroidal involvement in this disease and this can represent simply remote collections of inflammatory cells or subclinical infection.

OBJETIVOS: Relatar os achados da angiografia com indocianina verde, realizados em pacientes com recidiva de toxoplasmose ocular. MÉTODOS: Análise institucional e prospectiva de 23 olhos de 23 pacientes, imunocompetentes com idades entre 17 e 41 anos. Estes pacientes foram submetidos a exame oftalmológico de rotina e a angiografia com indocianina verde. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados múltiplos pontos hipofluorescentes distantes da lesão ativa recidivada da toxoplasmose retino-coroidiana em 26,08 por cento dos casos, chamados por nós de pontos remotos e encontramos também, pontos hipofluorescentes circundando ou próximos da lesão ativa recidivada em 69,56 por cento dos casos. CONCLUSÃO: Os pontos hipofluorescentes distantes da lesão ativa recidivada, chamados de pontos remotos, não descritos previamente na doença, demonstram um maior envolvimento da coróide e podem significar coleções remotas de células inflamatórias ou infecção subclínica.

Tratamento clínico da neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral com albendazol / Clinical treatment of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis with albendazole

OBJETIVO: Descrever a evolução de uma série de casos de neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral (NSDU) tratados com albendazol. MÉTODOS: Relato de série de casos intervencionista. Os autores desenvolveram protocolo de ensaio clínico não controlado, para estudar a evolução clínica de casos de neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral tratados com albendazol. Segundo os critérios do protocolo, foram selecionados seis pacientes até o momento desta publicação, que serão descritos separadamente. RESULTADOS: Dos seis pacientes estudados, quatro apresentavam larva. Todos os seis pacientes tratados com a droga anti-helmíntica apresentaram melhora da acuidade visual e das lesões coriorretinianas multifocais. As larvas identificadas nos pacientes foram inativadas com o tratamento. Nenhum efeito colateral foi observado. CONCLUSÕES: A terapia anti-helmíntica com albendazol parece ser benéfica e segura para pacientes com neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral. Mais estudos são necessários para avaliar a eficácia do albendazol no tratamento da neurorretinite subaguda difusa unilateral.

PURPOSE: To describe the evolution of a series of cases of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) treated with albendazole. METHODS: Interventional case series. The authors developed a non-randomized clinical trial protocol to investigate the clinical evolution of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis cases treated with albendazole. According to protocol criteria up to now, six patients were selected that will be described separately. RESULTS: Of the six studied patients, four presented the worm. All six patients treated with the antiparasitic drug showed improvement of visual acuity and of chorioretinal scars. During the weeks of treatment, evidence of worm inactivation was documented for the four patients with visible worms. No adverse drug side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The antiparasitic drug albendazole seems to be beneficial and safe in patients with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis. More studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of albendazole in the treatment of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis.

Bilateral acute acquired toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis after steroid therapy for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome: case report

Description of a case of acute acquired ocular toxoplasmosis following hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. A 41-year-old man presenting hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, confirmed in the laboratory by detection of IgM antibodies to the virus, was submitted to high doses of intravenous corticosteroids for two months. After clinical improvement of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome the patient presented visual loss in both eyes that was secondary to a toxoplasmosis retinitis. The retinitis resolved with anti-toxoplasma therapy. Acquired toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis can occur following steroid therapy for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Descrição de um caso de toxoplasmose ocular adquirida pós-síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus. Paciente com 41 anos do sexo masculino apresentando síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus, confirmado no laboratório pela detecção de anticorpos IGM para o vírus, foi submetido a altas doses de corticosteróides intravenosos durante dois meses. Após melhora clínica da síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus, apresentou perda visual em ambos os olhos secundária a retinite por toxoplasmose confirmada com sorologia (IGG e IGM positivo) A retinite resolveu após terapia sistêmica específica. A retinite por toxoplasmose pode ocorrer após terapia sistêmica com esteróide para síndrome pulmonar por hantavírus.

Eficacia del infliximab en pacientes con síndrome de Behçet portadores de úveo-retinitis grave / Effectiveness of infliximab in patients with Behçet syndrome and severe uveoretinitis. Report of five cases

The efficacy and safety of repeated administration of infliximab was evaluated in five patients (two men, three women) with Behçet syndrome accompanied by severe uveoretinitis. Ocular and extra ocular inflammation was suppressed in all patients during the observation period without any serious adverse reactions. The results in these patients suggests that TNF-α blockade is effective in patients with severe ocular Behçet syndrome.

Tratamiento de la retinitis por citomegalovirus en sujetos con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida / Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in subjects with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

La afección por citomegalovirus en órganos como el ojo se ha constituido como una de las complicaciones más serias del síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA). Se manifiesta en 24 a 44 por ciento de sujetos en conteos celulares de T CD4 menores a 50 células/mm de los que el 85 por ciento desarrollan retinitis que evoluciona a destrucción retiniana y ceguera en caso de no instaurarse tratamiento específico.En la actualidad existen fármacos como ganciclovir (análogo nucleósido), foscarnet (análogo pirofosfato) y cidofovir (análogo nucleósido) que han mostrado su utilidad en el tratamiento de esta retinitis aunque sus reacciones adversas determinan limitaciones en su utilización. Además, fármacos como los inhibidores de proteasas, disminuyen la progresión del cuadro, mejorando la sobrevida, propiciando la recuperación inmune. Las terapias de tipo local también son efectivas aunque los riesgos relativos de su utilización en comparación con los beneficios aún deben de ser evaluados. En todo caso ante la confirmación de alteraciones oculares el fármaco utilizado para el tratamiento de esta retinitis debe de iniciarse rápidamente, asegurando así menor destrucción retiniana y una mayor preservación de la función visual por un periodo más largo de tiempo. Las alternativas terapéuticas antirretrovirales retardan el desarrollo de la retinitis por citomegalovirus dependiendo del periodo de evolución y la historia natural de este padecimiento.

Cytomegalovirus retinopathy: current concepts and therapeutic options / Cytomegalovirus

Retinopatia por citomegalovirus é a infecçäo mais comum em pacierntes com AIDS, e tem sido muito estudado em atençäo à qualidade de vida dos aidéticos. Grande progresso tem ocorrido sobre a retinopatia por citomegalovirus em relaçäo à década anterior. Esta revisäo cobrirá as opçöes de tratamento para esta doença e conceitos pertinentes que auxilia no planejamento de tomada de decisöes

Retinocoroidite presumidamente toxoplásmica em seis irmäos näo gêmeos / Presumed toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in 6 non-twins silbings

A retinocoroidite toxoplásmica em irmäos näo gêmeos näo é rara na regiäo de Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul e corresponde a 7,8% dos casos de toxoplasmose ocular, atendidos de maio de 81 a maio de 84. O autor apresenta, família de seis irmäos näo gêmeos com retinocoroidite toxoplásmica, diagnosticada através de aspecto clínico das lesöes, sorologia positiva exclusivamente para toxoplasmose e exclusäo dos diagnósticos diferenciais. Três dos pacientes foram acompanhados pelo autor pelo período de 10 anos tendo ocorrido vários episódios de retinocoroidite toxoplásmica recorrente