TY - JOUR
T1 - Multiple recurrent branch retinal artery occlusions associated with varicella zoster virus
AU - Zamora, Rene L.
AU - Del Priore, Lucian V.
AU - Storch, Gregory A.
AU - Gelb, Lawrence D.
AU - Sharp, James
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - Purpose: The authors describe an immunocompetent patient who developed multiple recurrent branch retinal artery occlusions (BRAOs) associated with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Methods: A 69-year-old woman with mild bilateral vitritis developed superior and inferior BRAOs in her right eye with decreased visual acuity to 20/40, and a peripheral BRAO inferotemporally in her left eye, One month later, the inferotemporal BRAO progressed proximally in her left eye with a decrease in visual acuity to 20/40. After an extensive negative systemic evaluation, she underwent a diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy of her right eye. Results: Vitreous fluid was positive for VZV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir and systemic oral steroids. After remaining disease free for 3 months, the patient had two recurrences: 1) a mild vitritis and 2) development of a new superior temporal artery occlusion in the left eye. Both recurrences were treated with oral acyclovir and systemic steroids. The patient remained recurrence free for 12 months on a maintenance dose of oral acyclovir, and for 4 additional months without acyclovir. Conclusions: Varicella zoster virus can be associated with the syndrome of multiple recurrent BRAOs. The diagnosis of VZV-associated BRAO can be established by PCR of intraocular fluid.
AB - Purpose: The authors describe an immunocompetent patient who developed multiple recurrent branch retinal artery occlusions (BRAOs) associated with the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Methods: A 69-year-old woman with mild bilateral vitritis developed superior and inferior BRAOs in her right eye with decreased visual acuity to 20/40, and a peripheral BRAO inferotemporally in her left eye, One month later, the inferotemporal BRAO progressed proximally in her left eye with a decrease in visual acuity to 20/40. After an extensive negative systemic evaluation, she underwent a diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy of her right eye. Results: Vitreous fluid was positive for VZV DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir and systemic oral steroids. After remaining disease free for 3 months, the patient had two recurrences: 1) a mild vitritis and 2) development of a new superior temporal artery occlusion in the left eye. Both recurrences were treated with oral acyclovir and systemic steroids. The patient remained recurrence free for 12 months on a maintenance dose of oral acyclovir, and for 4 additional months without acyclovir. Conclusions: Varicella zoster virus can be associated with the syndrome of multiple recurrent BRAOs. The diagnosis of VZV-associated BRAO can be established by PCR of intraocular fluid.
KW - branch retinal artery occlusion
KW - herpes zoster
KW - varicella zoster virus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029926489&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00006982-199616050-00006
DO - 10.1097/00006982-199616050-00006
M3 - Article
C2 - 8912966
AN - SCOPUS:0029926489
SN - 0275-004X
VL - 16
SP - 399
EP - 404
JO - Retina
JF - Retina
IS - 5
ER -