Robert G Josephberg

Varicella-Zoster Virus Retinitis in Patients With the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

We examined five patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus who developed a rapidly progressive necrotizing retinitis characterized by early patchy choroidal and deep retinal lesions and late diffuse thickening of the retina. In all but one case, the retinitis began in the posterior pole with little or no clinical evidence of vasculitis. All five patients had relentless progression of disease and were left with atrophic and necrotic retinae, pale optic-nerve heads, and narrowed vasculature. None of the patients developed aqueous or vitreal inflammation or retinal detachment. Clinical and laboratory evidence suggested that varicella-zoster virus was the causal agent in all five cases. First, the onset of retinitis in four cases either succeeded or was coincident with an eruption of dermatomal zoster. Second, varicella-zoster virus was cultured from the two chorioretinal specimens and varicella-zoster virus antigen was detected in the vitreal aspirate from one case. Third, by means of immunocytochemistry, varicella-zoster virus antigen was found in the outer retinae of both enucleation specimens. Fourth, viral capsids with the size and shape of herpesviridae were found in the outer retinae of both enucleation specimens. The clinical features observed in this study are distinct from those described for the acute retinal necrosis syndrome and appear to constitute a new and highly characteristic pattern of varicella-zoster virus-induced disease.

Acute postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Actinomyces neuii

PURPOSE To describe a case of acute postoperative endophthalmitis caused by Actinomyces neuii after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant. METHODS Interventional case report. A 58-year-old male underwent phacoemulsification, right eye, with posterior chamber intraocular lens implant. On postoperative day 6, he presented with pain, redness, and decreased visual acuity, right eye, and was found to have endophthalmitis. RESULTS Vitreous cultures revealed the gram-positive, anaerobe Actinomyces neuii. After appropriate intraocular, periocular, topical, and systemic therapy, the infection cleared, but the vision of the patient never improved as a result of a central vein occlusion. CONCLUSION Actinomyces species can rarely cause postoperative endophthalmitis, and it should be considered in cases of severe postoperative intraocular inflammation.

A Fluorescem Angiographic Study of Patients with Pars Planitis and Peripheral Exudation (snowbanking) before and after Cryopexy

BACKGROUND Transconjunctival cryopexy of the vitreous base is clinically effective in patients with steroid nonresponsive pars planitis who have peripheral neovascularization. Cryoablation of the region previously has been thought to eliminate the areas of permeable neovascular tissue, thus removing the focus of exudation. The authors report the first study of patients with refractory pars planitis in which fluorescein angiography of the inferior pars plana snowbanks was performed both before and after cryopexy of the vitreous base. METHODS Twelve consecutive phakic eyes with pars planitis and prominent peripheral snowbanks had fluorescein angiograms of the pars plana. Clinical involvement was graded on the basis of visual acuity, levels of vitreous inflammation and cystoid macular edema, and on the extent of peripheral snowbanking. Transconjunctival cryopexy of the vitreous base was performed. Fluorescein angiography of the pars plana snowbanks was repeated 2 months after the procedure, and clinical involvement again was graded. RESULTS Early hyperfluorescence with late leakage was present in all eyes and was limited to the area of the pars plana snowbanks. After cryopexy of the vitreous base, all eyes demonstrated hypofluorescence and diminution of late-phase dye leakage in the treated areas. Eighty-three percent of all eyes demonstrated clinical improvement, consistent with previously reported studies. CONCLUSION Cryopexy of the vitreous base decreases peripheral exudation in patients with refractory pars planitis and snowbanking. This suggests that elimination of peripheral neovascular tissue may be directly related to clinical improvement in these patients.