Bilateral acute retinal necrosis and herpes simplex type 2 encephalitis in a neonate

Long-term follow-up of acute retinal necrosis with retinal detachment secondary to herpes simplex virus type 2 with a successful visual outcome

A man in his early 20s presented with acute loss of vision in his only eye, the left eye (OS), and was on oral steroids. He had lost vision in his right eye during his childhood and the cause was unknown. There was no history of trauma. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in OS was 20/100 and in the right eye was hand movements. OS showed non-granulomatous keratic precipitates on the cornea, anterior chamber flare 1+ and cell 1+, early cataract, vitreous haze and cells 2+ with nasal retinal detachment and superior full thickness retinitis. He underwent pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal ganciclovir and barrage laser away from the necrotic retina. PCR for herpes simplex virus 2 was positive from the aqueous and vitreous sample. He was started on oral valacyclovir 1 g three times a day and continued on tapering dose of oral steroids. BCVA in OS at 6-month follow-up was 20/25.

Multimodal Imaging of a Severe Case of Neonatal Acute Retinal Necrosis and Lens Vacuoles Associated with Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

PURPOSE

To report a case of a neonate with acute retinal necrosis, lens vacuoles, and encephalitis associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.

DESIGN

Case report.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review.

RESULTS

A male neonate was brought for screening for retinopathy of prematurity at the corrected age of 32 weeks. Slit-lamp examination showed lens vacuoles in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed extensive retinal detachments with prominent retinal whitening, subretinal exudates, and retinal hemorrhage. Computed tomography of the brain showed encephalomalacia. Polymerase chain reaction of cerebrospinal fluid and anterior chamber fluid was both positive for HSV-1. Despite systemic anti-viral therapy, a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and subsequent proliferative vitreoretinopathy developed in the patient's right eye. The retinal detachment in the left eye resolved, but significant chorioretinal degeneration occurred. With time lens vacuoles decreased in number.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should remember this rare, but devastating condition without specific prodromal symptoms.

Bilateral acute retinal necrosis in premature newborn with skin, eye, and mouth infection presenting with vitreous and subretinal hemorrhage

A premature newborn with systemic sepsis due to Candida albicans and parapsilosis developed skin, eye, and mouth herpetic infection. Ocular disease presented atypically with vitritis and pre and subretinal hemorrhage due to herpes simplex virus-1 confirmed fulminant bilateral acute retinal necrosis. Pars plana vitrectomy revealed necrotizing retinitis with poor visual prognosis. The baby has survived suffering from multiple morbidities which include post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, chronic lung disease, patent ductus arteriosus, and developmental delay.

Bilateral acute necrotizing retinitis due to cytomegalovirus infection in an infant: Challenging case report

Purpose

To report a case of bilateral acute necrotising retinitis due to cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) in an Asian Indian infant.

Observations

An Asian Indian infant born with a birth weight of 1000 g at 26 week of gestation acquired cytomegalovirus infection from repeated blood transfusion for anemia. During the routine course of ROP screening, both eyes were detected with Type 1 ROP (stage 3 in zone 1 with plus disease) and treated with laser photoablation at 39 + 2 weeks post menstrual age. The disease responded to the laser and showed signs of regression. Four weeks after laser therapy (PMA 43 + 3 weeks), both eyes presented with vitritis, inferior vitreous condensation and white lesions in the lower nasal retina and temporal retina overlying the lasered retinal bed associated with white fluffy hemorrhagic lesions resembling necrotising retinitis. As the infant was seropositive for CMV earlier, Necrotising retinitis due to CMV was suspected. The CMV DNA was repeated and was detected in serum. Infant was treated with anti-CMV medication (oral valgancyclovir) for six weeks. The retinal lesions resolved completely.

Conclusion and Importance

Bilateral acute necrotising retinitis may present in an infant on post lasered retina as early as 16 weeks after birth. CMV may also present as acute necrotising retinitis in unusual cases therefore high index of suspicion and early management can result in a successful outcome.

Atypical herpes simplex virus type 2 acute retinal necrosis presentation with large subretinal lesion

Purpose

To report the unique clinical findings of a case of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 herpetic retinitis manifesting as a large elevated subretinal lesion.

Observations

A 26-year-old Hispanic male with no significant past medical history presented with a one-week history of right eye pain and endorsement of worsening vision. Ophthalmic examination of the right eye identified a markedly elevated white subretinal lesion with associated findings of vitritis and hypotony. Ultrasound biomicroscopy demonstrated a diffusely thickened choroid and confirmed the observed subretinal mass. Examination of the fellow left eye was largely unremarkable with the exception of lesions suggestive of inactive chorioretinal scars. Diagnostic vitrectomy and vitreous PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was positive only for HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus type 2) and verified by two independent laboratories. The observed subretinal lesion of right eye improved on intravenous acyclovir and intravitreal foscarnet treatment.

Conclusions and Importance

Presented here is an unusual, novel clinical presentation of HSV-2 acute retinal necrosis manifesting as an elevated subretinal lesion along with findings of panuveitis. This case suggests that consideration should be given to the diagnosis of HSV ARN (acute retinal necrosis) when a subretinal elevation is concomitantly appreciated in the setting of vitritis and chorioretinal lesions.

Acute retinal necrosis in a patient with remote severe herpes simplex encephalitis

A 60-year-old man with a history of severe herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis 2 years prior presented with acute onset of visual loss in the left eye. Dilated funduscopic examination showed retinitis and occlusive vasculitis with retinal necrosis. PCR of the vitreous fluid was positive for HSV-1, and he was diagnosed with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) due to HSV-1. The patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir and intravitreous foscarnet for 2 weeks, followed by high dose oral valacyclovir for 2 weeks. He was subsequently placed on planned life-long suppressive valacyclovir. His case demonstrates that acute visual loss concomitant with or subsequent to HSV-1 encephalitis warrants suspicion of ARN. Prompt therapy with effective antiviral medication is necessary to reduce the risk of sight-threatening complications. Chronic suppression with oral antiviral therapy after ARN is recommended to prevent involvement of the contralateral eye, though there is no consensus on the duration and dosage of antivirals.

Bilateral Acute Retinal Necrosis: Clinical Features and Outcomes in a Multicenter Study

Purpose: To describe clinical features and outcome in bilateral acute retinal necrosis (BARN). Methods: Observational retrospective longitudinal review of ocular findings. Results: Thirty eyes of 15 patients (age 44.1 ± 15.8). Delay of involvement between eyes was 57.2 ± 105.2 months (median 3, range 0.5-360). Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 was the most frequent (20 eyes, 66.6%), followed by HSV-2 (five eyes, 16.7%) and varicella zoster virus (VZV, four eyes, 13.3%). Visual acuity worsened in 7 (23%) eyes, improved in 4 (13%), and remained stable in 19 (63%). Major complications included retinal detachment (11 eyes, 36%), optic atrophy (11 eyes, 33%), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (four eyes, 13.3%), neovascular glaucoma (four eyes, 13.3%), phthisis bulbi (three eyes, 10%). Symptoms-to-referral average time was 2.7 ± 1.0 weeks (range 1-4). Conclusions: In our study BARN was associated with severe visual outcome and high rate of ocular complications. Although BARN is a rare disease, the course is aggressive, regardless prompt referral in tertiary-care uveitis centers.

Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion associated with herpes simplex virus-associated acute retinal necrosis and meningitis: case report and literature review

A 60-year-old woman with a history of recurrent headaches and blurred vision presented with bilateral optic disc edema. Optic neuritis was suspected, and intravenous methylprednisonlone was administered. Her vision declined to hand motions in both eyes, and subsequent evaluation revealed bilateral acute retinal necrosis with bilateral central retinal artery occlusions (CRAO). Aqueous humor polymerase chain reaction analysis was positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV), establishing a diagnosis of HSV-associated bilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and meningitis. CRAO has rarely been reported in association with ARN, and a fulminant course with bilateral CRAO in association with ARN has not been previously reported. This case emphasizes the importance of careful peripheral examination in patients with presumptive optic neuritis, judicious use of systemic corticosteroid in this context, and the retinal vaso-obliterative findings that may be observed in the pathogenesis of ARN.

Neonatal herpes simplex virus type-1 central nervous system disease with acute retinal necrosis

We report a case of neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 central nervous system disease with bilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN). An infant was presented at 17 days of age with focal seizures. Cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction was positive for HSV-1 and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebritis. While receiving intravenous acyclovir therapy, the infant developed ARN with vitreous fluid polymerase chain reaction positive for HSV-1 necessitating intravitreal foscarnet therapy. This is the first reported neonatal ARN secondary to HSV-1 and the first ARN case presenting without external ocular or cutaneous signs. Our report highlights that infants with neonatal HSV central nervous system disease should undergo a thorough ophthalmological evaluation to facilitate prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment of this rapidly progressive sight-threatening disease.

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) in the context of neonatal HSV-2 exposure and subconjunctival dexamethasone: case report and literature review

HSV-2 is an important cause of the acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome in younger patients. We describe an atypical case of HSV-2 ARN in the context of neonatal exposure and subconjunctival steroid injection. Clinicians should be aware of the association of neonatal or congenital exposure to HSV-2 as a risk factor for this disease because early treatment may improve outcome and/or avoid involvement of both eyes.

Bilateral herpes simplex-2 acute retinal necrosis with encephalitis in premature twins

Acute retinal necrosis, caused by the herpes family of viruses, is a rapidly progressing ocular inflammatory disorder commonly reported in adults but rarely in children. The accepted diagnostic criteria include presence of 1 or more foci of retinal necrosis, rapid progression, circumferential spread, occlusive vasculopathy, and inflammation in the vitreous and anterior chamber. We report bilateral acute retinal necrosis with encephalitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) in newborn twins.

[Acute retinal necrosis from the virologist's perspective]

Acute retinal necrosis occurs in approximately one per million persons per year and is caused in approximately 70% of the cases by the varicella zoster virus or in about 30% of the cases by herpes simplex virus. The early diagnosis is primarily based on virus-specific polymerase chain reaction in fluid from the anterior chamber or vitreous humor and can be supported by the determination of specific antibody titers from fluid and serum. Virus detection provides the basis for early causative therapy which limits disease progression and risk of complications. Retinal infections by varicella zoster virus or herpes simplex virus are treated with aciclovir, ganciclovir, or famciclovir. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are used for the therapy of retinal cytomegalovirus infections. In the case of resistance development, foscarnet or cidofovir are available as second line antiviral drugs. The early use of specific antiviral agents is a crucial prerequisite for optimized therapy of acute retinal necrosis.

Acute retinal necrosis and cystic encephalomalacia in a premature neonate

PURPOSE

To report a case of an infant born at 30 weeks gestational age (GA) who, at 37 weeks GA, presented with bilateral acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome and herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalomalacia.

METHODS

Observational case report.

RESULTS

A premature infant was found to have ARN based on dilated funduscopic examination and positive HSV serologies. Herpes simplex virus encephalomalacia was diagnosed base on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the youngest reported patient with ARN. This case demonstrates that neonatal ARN may present with posterior chorioretinal lesions and highlights the importance of considering HSV infection of the central nervous system with MRI findings of cystic encephalomalacia.

HSV2 acute retinal necrosis: diagnosis and monitoring with quantitative polymerase chain reaction

PURPOSE

To describe a case of HSV2 acute retinal necrosis (ARN) diagnosed and monitored with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in ocular fluids.

DESIGN

Case report.

METHODS

Quantitative PCR was performed in the aqueous humor (AH) and vitreous using primers specific for herpes virus.

RESULTS

A positive PCR was found for HSV2 in the AH (>100,000,000 viral copies - 8.00 log/ml). After therapy, another anterior chamber tap showed a reduction of the viral load at 4.28 log/ml (19205 copies), confirming the efficacy of the treatment. After six months, PCR on the vitreous still showed the presence of HSV2 viral particles in the eye (3.14 log DNA copies/ml, 1379 copies) although the lesion was healed.

CONCLUSIONS

This case demonstrates that PCR is useful to detect viral DNA in AH and vitreous and to monitor viral activity and therapeutic response. Viral DNA persists in ocular fluids for months in the presence of a healed infection.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 acute retinal necrosis 9 years after neonatal herpes

Many cases of acute retinal necrosis caused by HSV-2 have been reported in children, teenagers, and young adults as a result of reactivation of congenital or neonatal infections, which may have been subclinical. Pediatricians should be aware of this entity and alert to recurrences that may be delayed by years.

Clinical characteristics of acute HSV-2 retinal necrosis

PURPOSE

To report the clinical features and evaluate the visual outcome of eleven cases of herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) related acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN).

DESIGN

Retrospective interventional case series.

METHODS

Twelve eyes of eleven patients from two European centers, diagnosed with HSV-2 related acute retinal necrosis syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. Herpes simplex virus-2 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in intraocular fluids (aqueous and/or vitreous). Findings at initial examination, clinical evolution with antiviral therapy, complications and final visual acuity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Herpes simplex virus-2 DNA was detected in all cases. No sample was positive for more than one virus. The mean age of disease in the first eye was 36 years (ranged from 10 to 57 years). Five patients were women and six were men. All patients were immunocompetent. Previous medical history included neonatal herpes (n = 1), previous ARN (n = 3), trauma (n = 1) and systemic corticosteroid administration before occurrence of ARN (n = 3). Preexisting pigmented chorioretinal scars were found in three cases. Patients were treated with high dose intravenous acyclovir or foscarnet +/- intravitreal ganciclovir +/- interferon. The mean follow-up was 14.5 months (from 5 to 22 months). At the end of the follow-up period, five eyes (41.7%) showed improvement of visual acuity of two or more lines. Final visual acuity was 20/60 or better in four eyes (33.3%), 20/400 or better in four eyes (33.3%) and less than 20/400 in four eyes.

CONCLUSION

History of neonatal herpes, triggering events such as neurosurgery, periocular trauma, high-dose corticosteroids, and chorioretinal scars suggest that HSV-2 retinitis reflects reactivation of HSV-2 infection.

Prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique des rétinites nécrosantes herpétiques

PURPOSE

To study the viral cause and present the management of necrotizing herpetic retinopathies.

METHODS

Charts of patients presenting with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) or progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) diagnosed between March 1997 and June 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Intraocular specimens were obtained in 33 cases to determine the viral cause using polymerase chain reaction-based assays and/or detection of intraocular antibody production.

RESULTS

The mean age was 43.4 Years. Herpesvirus genome was identified in 29 patients (80.5%). In the ARN group (32 patients, 38 eyes), herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA was found in 11 patients (34.4%), varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in nine patients (28.1%), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in four patients (12.5%). One patient (3.1%) presented an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. ARN was bilateral at initial examination in six patients and secondary bilateralization was observed in four patients. In the PORN group (four patients, eight eyes), the retinitis was bilateral and VZV DNA was detected in all cases. Two patients were treated with intravenous acyclovir, six with foscarnet alone, ten with intravenous foscarnet + acyclovir, 18 with intravenous foscarnet and intravitreous ganciclovir injections. Complications of necrotizing herpetic retinitis were cataract (26%), optic nerve atrophy (23.9%), and retinal detachment (17.4%). Final visual acuity was less or equal to 20/200 in 47.8% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to determine the specific viral etiology since progression and prognosis may be different in herpetic necrotizing retinitis caused by HSV, VZV, or CMV. Visual prognosis is improved by intensive antiviral therapy, but remains poor if complications occur.