Varicella zoster virus retrobulbar optic neuritis preceding retinitis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Unilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis due to varicella zoster virus in a patient with AIDS: A case report and review of the literature

“…To date, only 5 cases of isolated retrobulbar optic neuritis, without skin or retinal lesions, secondary to VZV infection have been reported in the literature [2,7,22]. We believe that our case is the sixth.…”

“…Retrobulbar optic neuritis secondary to VZV infection may rarely precede the acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [2]. To date, only 5 cases of isolated retrobulbar optic neuritis, without skin or retinal lesions, secondary to VZV infection have been reported in the literature [2,7,22].…”

“…In each case of isolated retrobulbar optic neuritis there followed a peripheral necrotizing retinitis (Table 1). Retinal detachment occurs in approximately 75% of patients with VZV retinitis and further contributes to loss of vision [2].…”

“…The prognosis is poor, but dramatic visual recovery is possible if prompt and aggressive treatment is initiated early [2]. Foscarnet (120 mg/kg/day, IV) is the preferred treatment for acyclovir-resistant VZV infection.…”

Progressive outer retinal necrosis in an immunocompromised patient presenting with bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis

“…Ten patients had a positive VZV PCR in vitreous or cerebrospinal fluid, despite that some patients never having had a history of herpes zoster infection before. Two patients had a positive CMV PCR, one from blood and the other from an unspecified source [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. There was one patient with PORN who had a positive PCR for both HSV and CMV.…”