Abstract
Bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis developed in a 38-year-old woman with advanced HIV infection. This was secondary to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection of VZV in the patients cerebrospinal fluid. There was no evidence of retinitis, and the ocular symptoms preceded the rash. This case illustrates that a new onset of unexplained visual loss resulting from optic neuritis in an HIV-positive patient may be caused by VZV infection. Clinicians should be aware of this unusual manifestation of VZV infection. Prompt recognition and early intervention with antivirals are needed, but it is unclear how much vision can be preserved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | AIDS Reader |
| State | Published - Nov 17 2009 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Unusual cause of bilateral optic neuritis in a patient with AIDS. / Castro, Jose G; Baldarrag, Giovanna.
In: AIDS Reader, 17.11.2009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unusual cause of bilateral optic neuritis in a patient with AIDS
AU - Castro, Jose G
AU - Baldarrag, Giovanna
PY - 2009/11/17
Y1 - 2009/11/17
N2 - Bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis developed in a 38-year-old woman with advanced HIV infection. This was secondary to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection of VZV in the patients cerebrospinal fluid. There was no evidence of retinitis, and the ocular symptoms preceded the rash. This case illustrates that a new onset of unexplained visual loss resulting from optic neuritis in an HIV-positive patient may be caused by VZV infection. Clinicians should be aware of this unusual manifestation of VZV infection. Prompt recognition and early intervention with antivirals are needed, but it is unclear how much vision can be preserved.
AB - Bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis developed in a 38-year-old woman with advanced HIV infection. This was secondary to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection of VZV in the patients cerebrospinal fluid. There was no evidence of retinitis, and the ocular symptoms preceded the rash. This case illustrates that a new onset of unexplained visual loss resulting from optic neuritis in an HIV-positive patient may be caused by VZV infection. Clinicians should be aware of this unusual manifestation of VZV infection. Prompt recognition and early intervention with antivirals are needed, but it is unclear how much vision can be preserved.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78651399829&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78651399829&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78651399829
JO - AIDS Reader
JF - AIDS Reader
SN - 1053-0894
ER -