Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis
Optic neuritis is not an uncommon diagnosis in HIV-infected patients, but it is rarely idiopathic. We report a case of a young HIV-infected woman who developed optic neuritis as her presenting manifestation of HIV infection. She had initially experienced sudden-onset right-sided painful visual loss;...
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Series: | Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
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doaj-4ac18e72d0a447b4ae258a61694107922020-11-24T23:16:58ZengAOSISSouthern African Journal of HIV Medicine1608-96932078-67512011-12-0112410.4102/sajhivmed.v12i4.169169Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritisClaire CullenBaile MatlalaFatima LaherAné PienaarOptic neuritis is not an uncommon diagnosis in HIV-infected patients, but it is rarely idiopathic. We report a case of a young HIV-infected woman who developed optic neuritis as her presenting manifestation of HIV infection. She had initially experienced sudden-onset right-sided painful visual loss; the left eye had become involved within days. Bilateral swollen discs were apparent on fundoscopy. Investigations were performed for meningitis (including bacterial, cryptococcal, tuberculous and syphilitic types), auto-immune diseases, toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus, viral hepatitis, HTLV-1/2, HIV-1/2 and syphilis. The only positive result was a reactive HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The CD4 count was 85 cells/µl. A post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain illustrated enhancement of the optic nerves. Treatment was 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone 1 g daily, followed by 11 days of oral prednisone 60 mg daily. Highly active antiretroviral therapy was initiated after 2 weeks. Vision improved from day 6 after commencement of steroid therapy, with ongoing recovery at 5 months.https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/169 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Claire Cullen Baile Matlala Fatima Laher Ané Pienaar |
spellingShingle |
Claire Cullen Baile Matlala Fatima Laher Ané Pienaar Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
author_facet |
Claire Cullen Baile Matlala Fatima Laher Ané Pienaar |
author_sort |
Claire Cullen |
title |
Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis |
title_short |
Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis |
title_full |
Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis |
title_fullStr |
Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by HIV-associated optic neuritis |
title_sort |
successful treatment of bilateral visual loss caused by hiv-associated optic neuritis |
publisher |
AOSIS |
series |
Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine |
issn |
1608-9693 2078-6751 |
publishDate |
2011-12-01 |
description |
Optic neuritis is not an uncommon diagnosis in HIV-infected patients, but it is rarely idiopathic. We report a case of a young HIV-infected woman who developed optic neuritis as her presenting manifestation of HIV infection. She had initially experienced sudden-onset right-sided painful visual loss; the left eye had become involved within days. Bilateral swollen discs were apparent on fundoscopy. Investigations were performed for meningitis (including bacterial, cryptococcal, tuberculous and syphilitic types), auto-immune diseases, toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus, viral hepatitis, HTLV-1/2, HIV-1/2 and syphilis. The only positive result was a reactive HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The CD4 count was 85 cells/µl. A post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain illustrated enhancement of the optic nerves. Treatment was 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone 1 g daily, followed by 11 days of oral prednisone 60 mg daily. Highly active antiretroviral therapy was initiated after 2 weeks. Vision improved from day 6 after commencement of steroid therapy, with ongoing recovery at 5 months. |
url |
https://sajhivmed.org.za/index.php/hivmed/article/view/169 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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