Ocular Toxoplasmosis: No Stranger to the Masquerade Ball

Purpose: This article illustrates multiple atypical manifestations of ocular toxoplasmosis masquerading as acute retinal necrosis and vitreoretinal lymphoma. Methods: Two case presentations are discussed, and the body of pertinent literature is reviewed and discussed. Results: In these cases, an extensive workup and attention to history lead to the correct diagnosis and management. Conclusions: Aggressive cases of ocular toxoplasmosis may present in a variety of phenotypes that may mimic other vision- and potentially life-threatening conditions, particularly in a milieu of inadequate endogenous and exogenous antimicrobial defenses.

Acute retinal necrosis with exudative retinal detachment in a child

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a rare ocular emergency caused mainly by viral entities. ARN may be caused by Herpes zoster virus (HZV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV), both HSV-1 and HSV-2. ARN mostly present in 20–60 years old immunocompetent adults. A 7-year-old girl presented to the eye clinic with complaints of left eye redness noted by her mother for 2–3 days. On examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy, no hypopyon was seen in either eye. In the left eye fundus view was hazy. Ultrasound B-scan performed showed exudative retinal detachment. PCR of ocular fluid was positive for HSV-1 DNA. The patient was started on topical steroids and antibiotics and systemic antivirals. In addition, she also received intravitreal ganciclovir 4 mg/0.1 mL three times under general anaesthesia. At her last follow-up, 3 years from her presentation, her right eye examination was within normal limits, and left eye showed thick vitreous bands with a posterior vitreous detachment, and left inferotemporal retinal scarring.

Akut retinanekrózis és ischaemiás stroke társulása

Összefoglaló. A varicella zoster vírus (VZV-) fertőzés típusos első megjelenése a bárányhimlő, később a reaktiváció során a herpes zoster. Szemészeti tünet az V/I-es agyideget érintő zoster esetén gyakori. A legrettegettebb szemészeti manifesztáció az akut retinanekrózis, mely fulmináns lefolyású, és súlyos szöveti destrukciót, valamint jelentős funkcionális károsodást, gyakran vakságot hagy maga után. Központi idegrendszeri vascularis érintettség előfordulhat bárányhimlőhöz társulóan vagy a későbbi reaktivációk során is, súlyos következményekhez vezetve. A Semmelweis Egyetem Szemészeti Klinikáján akut retinanekrózis tünetével érkező 65 éves férfi esetét ismertetjük. Az Amerikai Szemorvostársaság (AAO) diagnosztikus kritériumainak mindenben megfelelő klinikai kép alapján azonnal indított adekvát dózisú antivirális kezelés mellett 3 nap múlva, contralateralis hemiparesis hátterében, a képalkotó vizsgálat ipsilateralis ischaemiás stroke-ot igazolt. Intraocularis mintából PCR-vizsgálat bizonyította a vírus jelenlétét. Liquormintában enyhe anti-VZV-IgA-pozitivitás mutatkozott. Az aktuális szemészeti betegség és a stroke társulásának hátterében az észlelt paraméterek, valamint a releváns irodalmi adatok alapján a varicella zoster vírus okozta vasculopathiát valószínűsítettük. Gyermekkorban ez az ischaemiás stroke leggyakoribb oka, felnőttkorban pedig az V/I-es agyideg herpeses érintettsége esetén négy és félszeres a kockázat stroke kialakulására. A VZV-reaktiváció okozta akut retinanekrózis és a stroke társulásának lehetősége, bár ismert a nemzetközi irodalomban, magyar szakirodalom tudomásunk szerint eddig nem tárgyalta, ez kiemeli esetünk közlésének jelentőségét. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(48): 1940–1945. Summary. The typical first onset of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is chickenpox, later herpes zoster during reactivation. Ophthalmic symptoms are common in herpes zoster affecting the V/I cranial nerve. The most dreaded ophthalmic manifestation is acute retinal necrosis, which has a fulminant course and leaves severe tissue damage as well as significant functional impairment, often blindness. Vascular involvement in the central nervous system may occur in association with chickenpox or during subsequent reactivations leading to severe consequences. We report the case of a 65-year-old male patient with symptoms of acute retinal necrosis at the Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University. The clinical picture fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and after 3 days of the immediately initiated adequate therapy, contralateral hemiparesis appeared, that was confirmed as an ipsilateral stroke by imaging study. The PCR analysis of an intraocular sample confirmed the presence of VZV. Mild anti-VZV IgA positivity was observed in the cerebrospinal fluid sample. Based on the current ophthalmic disease, the associated stroke alongside with the relevant literature data, varicella zoster vasculopathy was probable. VZV vasculopathy is the most common cause of ischemic stroke in childhood and in adulthood herpetic involvement of the V/I cranial nerve elevates 4.5 times the risk of stroke formation. Though the possible association of acute retinal necrosis and stroke caused by VZV reactivation is known in the international literature, to the best of our knowledge it has not been discussed in Hungary so far, which highlights the importance of reporting our case. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(48): 1940–1945.

To the question of retinal detachment in cytomegalovirus uveitis in HIV-infected patients: treatment outcomes

Cytomegalovirus uveitis (CMV-uveitis) is one of the most common causes of vision loss in HIV-infected patients. The purpose is to characterize the clinical features of the course of retinal detachment in HIV infection. Material and methods. The study group included 29 patients, 34 eyes (9 men and 20 women). All patients underwent a standard routine ophthalmological examination. To confirm the diagnosis, an ultrasound of the eyeball was performed. Results. The following forms of retinal detachment were identified: acute retinal necrosis, regmatogenic and traction detachment. In 50% of cases, the disease occurred as acute retinal necrosis of CMV-etiology. Visual acuity in the group of patients with operated retinal detachment became significantly lower after complex treatment. Conclusions. CMV-uveitis has a chronic sluggish course, despite multicomponent treatment. Key words: cytomegalovirus, uveitis, HIV, HIV-infection, AIDS, retinal detachment.