Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in the setting of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and hypertensive emergency

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy as the only manifestation of a malignant hypertensive crisis: Report of a case

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is after glaucoma the most common optic neuropathy in patients over 50 years. It is known that high blood pressure (HBP) is an important risk factor for the development of NAION. It is also known that malignant arterial hypertension (MAH) could be accompanied by optic disc edema. However, MAH has not classically been considered a cause of NAION. We report the case of a 32-year-old patient who presented irreversible visual loss with a pattern compatible with NAION as the only manifestation of a hypertensive crisis.

Utility of standard diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the identification of ischemic optic neuropathy in giant cell arteritis

This study assessed diffusion abnormalities of the optic nerve (ON) in giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients with acute onset of visual impairment (VI) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). DWI scans of GCA patients with acute VI were evaluated in a case-control study. Two blinded neuroradiologists assessed randomized DWI scans of GCA and controls for ON restricted diffusion. Statistical quality criteria and inter-rater reliability (IRR) were calculated. DWI findings were compared to ophthalmological assessments. 35 GCA patients (76.2 ± 6.4 years; 37 scans) and 35 controls (75.7 ± 7.6 years; 38 scans) were included. ON restricted diffusion was detected in 81.1% (Reader 1) of GCA scans. Localization of ON restricted diffusion was at the optic nerve head in 80.6%, intraorbital in 11.1% and affecting both segments in 8.3%. DWI discerned affected from unaffected ON with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 87%/99%/96%/96%. IRR for ON restricted diffusion was κ_inter = 0.72 (95% CI 0.59–0.86). DWI findings challenged ophthalmologic diagnoses in 4 cases (11.4%). DWI visualizes anterior and posterior ON ischemia in GCA patients with high sensitivity and specificity, as well as substantial IRR. DWI may complement the ophthalmological assessment in patients with acute VI.

Invasive Fungal Sinusitis Presenting as Acute Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

Invasive fungal sinusitis causes painful orbital apex syndrome with ophthalmoplegia and visual loss; the mechanism is unclear. We report an immunocompromised patient with invasive fungal sinusitis in whom the visual loss was due to posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, shown on diffusion-weighted MRI, presumably from fungal invasion of small meningeal-based arteries at the orbital apex. After intensive antifungal drugs, orbital exenteration and immune reconstitution, the patient survived, but we were uncertain if the exenteration helped. We suggest that evidence of acute posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy should be a contra-indication to the need for orbital exenteration in invasive fungal sinusitis.

Neuro-Ophthalmology Annual Review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review was to update the practicing ophthalmologist on the English language neuro-ophthalmology literature from the past year.

DESIGN

A review of English language literature from August 1, 2013, to August 1, 2014, was conducted.

METHODS

The author searched PubMed from August 1, 2013, to August 1, 2014, limited to English language publications including original articles, review articles, and case reports and excluding letters to the editor, unpublished work, and abstracts. The following topics were searched: pupillary abnormalities, eye movement dysfunction, neuromuscular diseases, optic neuropathies, optic neuritis, demyelinating diseases including multiple sclerosis, lesions of the optic chiasm and posterior primary visual pathways, elevated intracranial pressure, tumors and aneurysms affecting the visual pathways, vascular diseases, higher visual function, and neuroimaging advances. The focus of this review is on clinically relevant literature in the past year for the practicing ophthalmologist. The aim was to highlight remarkable and interesting literature rather than exhaustively including all new neuro-ophthalmological publications of the year.

RESULTS

Initially, more than 11,000 articles were identified. One hundred were selected that met criteria specified above.

CONCLUSIONS

This review updates the comprehensive ophthalmologist on neuro-ophthalmic topics.