Optic neuritis complicating herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an immunocompetent patient

Zoster optic neuritis in immunocompentent

Abstracts

A 58-year-old woman presented with rash over the left side of the face and intense acute uveitis. Following careful review of the symptoms and dilated fundus examination unilateral optic neuritis was discovered. The rash was typical of varicella zoster dermatitis. Patients presenting with herpes zoster ophthalmicus should always undergo dilated fundus examination, as there is a potential risk of unexpected posterior segment inflammation. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can avoid visual sequelae.

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus/complications; Carrier State; Uveitis; Fundus oculi; Optic neuritis; Case reports

Paciente de 58 anos de idade apresentando erupção cutânea no lado esquerdo da face e intensa uveíte unilateral. Após cuidadosa revisão dos sintomas e exame de fundo do olho foi detectada neurite óptica. O rash era típico de dermatite por varicella zoster. Pacientes apresentando quadro de herpes zoster oftálmico devem ser submetidos ao exame de fundo do olho devido ao risco de inesperada inflamação do segmento posterior. Diagnóstico precoce e tratamento imediato podem evitar danos visuais.

Herpes Zoster Oftálmico/complicações; Portador sadio; Uveítes; Fundo de olho; Neurite óptica; Relatos de casos

INTRODUCTION

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) can remain latent in sensory ganglia and can reactivate unpredictably producing inflammation. The neuronal damagge sometimes persists with debilitating pain as post herpetic neuralgia⁽¹⁾. The virus produces a typical vesicular rash affecting one or more cutaneous dermatomes. Reduction of cellular immunity is one cause of VZV reactivation, humoral immunity persists intact in most cases⁽²⁾.

An epidemiologic study from the United States of VZV infection revealed an incidence of 3.2 per 1000 person-years according to diagnosis codes of health care claims. Rates were highest among individuals over 80 and with evidence of recent care for transplantation, HIV infection or cancer. Approximately half of the patients with HZO present with keratitis, conjunctivitis, or uveitis⁽³⁾.

Optic neuritis is one rare complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). This must be treated aggressively, because the visual prognosis is usually poor⁽⁴⁾. Here in, we describe a rare case in which the patient experienced rash, anterior uveitis associated with optic neuritis with clinical and visual improvement following aggressive treatment.

CASE REPORT

A 58 year-old woman presented to the emergency room complaining of a two-day history of pain and decreased vision in her left eye. At examination facial erythematous vesicles over the left ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve were seen. The patient's best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/200 in the left eye. Slit lamp examination of the right eye was normal, her left eye revealed keratic precipitates, 3+/4+ cells and 2+/4+ flare in the anterior chamber (figure 1). Trace vitreous cells were noted in the left eye as well. Intraocular pressures by applanation tonometry were 12 and 34 mmHg, right and left eye respectively.

Figure 1
A – Rash over the left side of her forehead; B – Slit lamp examination: anterior uveitis with keratic precipitates and fibrin deposits overlying corneal endothelium

Fundus examination revealed left optic nerve swelling. Fluorescein angiography (FA) showed hyperfluorescence with late dye leakage in the left optic nerve and normal retinal circulation. Ocular coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed nerve inflammation revealing thickening of retinal fiber layers around the optic nerve head (figure 2)^(4,7). The right eye was normal.

Figure 2
A – Hyperemic left optic nerve retinography; B – Late phase angiogram showing optic nerve leakage (red arrow); C – Spectralis OCT: swelling of the right optic nerve

Treatment was started using cycloplegic and topical corticosteroid. Dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate were also instilled twice daily to reduce intraocular pressure. Prednisone 1mg/Kg/daily and valacyclovir 1g three-times-daily were prescribed. In 7 days the patient recovered her vision to 20/ 20 in both eyes. Intraocular pressure returned to normal limits. Oral prednisone was weaned weekly and after 4 weeks the patient presented with no signs of neuritis on FA and OCT. The optic nerve returned to physiologic anatomy without dye leakage and the retinal fibers layers returned to normal (figure 3).

Figure 3
A – Normal left eye retinography; B – Late phase angiography without leakage or staining; C – Spectralis OCT: decrease of the retinal thickness around the optic nerve (yellow arrows)

DISCUSSION

Prior to an ophthalmological examination, a detailed history in patients with uveitis is essential. Some authors have stated that over 90% of diagnoses may be made on history grounds alone⁽⁵⁾. Varicella zoster virus has the potential to cause intraocular inflammation including iris atrophy, posterior synechia, secondary glaucoma, cataract and retinal necrosis⁽⁶⁾.

Optic neuritis is a rare but possible complication of VZV infection^(4,7). Careful reviews of the symptoms are useful to the detection of HZO as well as having it as part of the differential diagnosis. In the described case, the diagnosis was based on the presence of vesicular rash, acute anterior uveitis and ocular hypertension. A positive serology for VZV supported the diagnosis.

The precise mechanism underlying optic neuropathy in HZO is unknown. Optic nerve inflammation may result from direct viral nerve infection through the cavernous sinus⁽⁵⁾. Oral antiviral drugs should be promptly administered to all patients with HZO, irrespective of age or severity of symptoms. As soon as our patient presented at the emergency room with rash and uveitis, antiviral drug and topical corticosteroids was prescribed. Valacyclovir was the antiviral medication of choice and was prescribed three-times-daily. Patients must be advised on the importance of a full course of therapy⁽⁸⁾.

Acyclovir has been the drug of choice in the therapy of herpes zoster infection for decades⁽⁹⁾. A other study with a large patient population demonstrated that valacyclovir offers significant advantages over acyclovir for the treatment of herpes zoster in immunocompetent adults⁽¹⁰⁾. Oral corticosteroids are also recommended in cases of optic neuropathy of HZO, simultaneous with antiviral treatment⁽⁸⁾. Our patient was treated for 4 weeks with combination therapy: oral valacyclovir and steroids leading to remission of ocular inflammation and recovery vision.

In conclusion optic neuritis is a rare complication of HZO in immunocompetent people and should be considered even in the setting of HZO with keratisis and/or anterior uveitis. Patients presenting with HZO should always undergo dilated fundus examination, as there is a potential risk of unexpected posterior segment inflammation. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can avoid visual sequelae.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Nov-Dec 2014

History

• Received
  03 July 2014
• Accepted
  11 July 2014