The Diagnostic Conundrum of Retinitis and a Pigmented Scar

We report a finding of a pigmented chorioretinal scar with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) caused by herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection rather than toxoplasma, creating an initial diagnostic dilemma. A 53-year-old functionally monocular male presented with painless floaters and blurry vision in his seeing eye over a period of 4 days. An exam demonstrated anterior chamber (AC) reaction, vitritis, multifocal patches of whitening, and an occlusive retinal vasculitis. A superior pigmented chorioretinal scar with overlying contracted vitreous was noted in the periphery with no adjacent retinal whitening. The patient was treated for both ARN and toxoplasma chorioretinitis until PCR study of the vitreous and AC returned positive for HSV-2 and negative for toxoplasmosis. Management consisted of a dual therapy regimen of both oral and intravitreal antiviral agents as well as oral corticosteroids. The patient’s clinical course was complicated by rhegmatogenous retinal detachment within 2 weeks after symptom onset, requiring pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil and intraoperative intraocular incubation with foscarnet. We review emerging evidence for pigmented chorioretinal scars in ARN specifically caused by HSV-2, as well as diagnostic and treatment dilemmas in the management of ARN and ARN detachments.

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Antiviral, Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Selenoesters and Selenoanhydrides

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24234264 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (23) ◽

pp. 4264 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Spengler ◽

Kincses ◽

Mosolygó ◽

Marć ◽

Nové ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Antiviral Agents ◽

Vero Cells ◽

Bacterial Biofilm ◽

Antibiofilm Activity ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Selenium Compounds ◽

Serovar Typhimurium ◽

Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex Virus 2

Selenoesters and the selenium isostere of phthalic anhydride are bioactive selenium compounds with a reported promising activity in cancer, both due to their cytotoxicity and capacity to reverse multidrug resistance. Herein we evaluate the antiviral, the biofilm inhibitory, the antibacterial and the antifungal activities of these compounds. The selenoanhydride and 7 out of the 10 selenoesters were especially potent antiviral agents in Vero cells infected with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2). In addition, the tested selenium derivatives showed interesting antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, as well as a moderate antifungal activity in resistant strains of Candida spp. They were inactive against anaerobes, which may indicate that the mechanism of action of these derivatives depends on the presence of oxygen. The capacity to inhibit the bacterial biofilm can be of particular interest in the treatment of nosocomial infections and in the coating of surfaces of prostheses. Finally, the potent antiviral activity observed converts these selenium derivatives into promising antiviral agents with potential medical applications.

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