Prevalence of dengue maculopathy in patients hospitalized for dengue fever.

OBJECTIVE: Dengue fever causes numerous systemic manifestations, including maculopathy, with loss of vision. This study sought to determine the prevalence of dengue maculopathy in patients hospitalized with dengue fever. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study in which consecutive patients hospitalized with dengue fever during a dengue epidemic were enrolled over a 3-week period. PARTICIPANTS: Patients hospitalized in 2 general hospitals in Singapore with dengue fever. TESTING: Patients completed a standardized questionnaire and underwent tests for near and distance visual acuity (VA), Amsler grid testing, dilated retinal examination, serum complements C3 and C4, and urinary microalbumin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dengue maculopathy found on retinal examination. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven patients were enrolled, of whom 119 (60.4%) were male and 78 (39.6%) female. The patients ranged between 12 and 67 years old (mean, 32.65). One hundred sixty of 197 patients had positive dengue immunoglobulin M serology. Dengue maculopathy was detected in 27 eyes of 16 of the seropositive patients, giving a prevalence of 10% (95% confidence interval, 6.03%-15.40%). None of the patients who were dengue immunoglobulin M negative had dengue maculopathy. Dengue maculopathy eyes were more likely to have distance acuity worse than logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.15 (Snellen 6/9 or worse) (P = 0.005) and abnormalities on Amsler grid testing (P = 0.001), with a greater proportion of these patients having visual complaints (P = 0.002) and lower mean complement C3 levels (P = 0.008) as compared with patients without maculopathy. Logistic regression analysis showed Amsler grid abnormalities to be the most consistent factor associated with dengue-related maculopathy (P<0.001), with a hazard ratio of 8.669; sensitivity, 29.6%; and specificity, 95.4%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of dengue maculopathy among patients hospitalized for dengue fever is 10% in our series. Amsler grid abnormalities, reduced distance VA, and the presence of visual symptoms are associated with dengue maculopathy. Low complement C3 levels in these patients suggest that this is an immune-mediated disease.

Dengue-associated maculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical spectrum of fundus manifestations and angiographic and optical coherence tomographic features of dengue-associated maculopathy in a large series. METHODS: We reviewed clinical records of patients diagnosed as having dengue maculopathy at the Singapore National Eye Centre between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2005. RESULTS: We identified 41 patients with serological evidence of dengue fever who had ocular signs and symptoms not attributable to other diseases within 1 month after onset of symptoms of dengue. Seventy-one eyes had maculopathy. Mean best-corrected visual acuity in the affected eye was 20/40 (range, hand motions to 20/20). Intraretinal hemorrhages were seen in 45% of eyes, usually in association with venous sheathing. Fundus fluorescein angiography demonstrated venular occlusion in 25% or arteriolar and/or venular leakage in 3% and 13%, respectively. Yellow subretinal dots were an unusual finding in 28%. Of these, 50% showed corresponding hypofluorescent spots on indocyanine green angiography. Central or paracentral scotomas were observed in 63%. Twenty-eight patients received steroid treatment. Mean visual acuity showed significant improvement between weeks 2 and 4, with an increasing proportion of eyes achieving a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better across time. CONCLUSION: Fundus fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography, and visual field testing are useful tools in the diagnosis of dengue maculopathy.