Leber's idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis: diagnostic and therapeutic conflicts

Three cases of patients with decreased visual acuity and papillitis at onset with subsequent macular star development after a few weeks are presented. Complementary tests were unremarkable in all included patients. Based on this clinical context, they were diagnosed with Leber's idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis, were treated with corticosteroids, as well as with antibiotics in 2cases. All patients showed favourable outcomes, although signs of papillary atrophy were observed in the affected eyes. Leber's idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis diagnosis can be challenging due to the wide spectrum of conditions that have to be ruled out. In addition, macular star may appear later on, which should not exclude its diagnosis. Use of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids is controversial considering its benign nature, but should be considered in selected severe cases. Moreover, the routine use of complementary tests should be carefully evaluated, mainly those that can be aggressive and/or expensive, which should be rationally used.

[Papillitis due to Epstein-Barr virus infection in an adult patient]

CASE REPORT

A 70-year- old woman who consulted due to poor vision in her right eye for 2 weeks. The examination showed a visual acuity (VA) of 0.6 and 1.0, with normal anterior pole and intraocular pressure and a relative afferent pupillary defect. Some papillitis was observed in the fundus of her right eye. The high levels of acute phase reactants led to an initial diagnosis of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) and treatment with corticosteroids was started.

DISCUSSION

According to the age of the patient, the fundus and the high levels of acute phase reactants, the initial diagnosis was AAION. However, the atypical papillitis features, with good AV and non-specific perimetry, together with a suitable medical history, and a profile of viral characteristics, with laboratory confirmation, led to the diagnosis of a primary papillitis infection due to Epstein-Barr virus, a very rare case due to the advanced age of the patient.

Papillitis and neuroretinitis of tuberculous etiology

A 57-year-old man with miliary tuberculosis reported visual loss in his right eye, a month after starting a four-drug antituberculous treatment regimen. On exploration, an inferior segmental optic disc edema was objectived and it was attributed to ischemic aetiology. Ethambutol was withdrawn and 60mg of oral prednisone daily were given with a tapering dosage. One and a half months later, he presented a sudden loss of vision in his left eye. In fundoscopy, a papillary edema accompanied by a foveal neurosensory detachment was observed but with no more accompanying uveitic signs. Treatment was intensified with moxifloxacin and corticosteroids were reduced, showing a resolution of the macular detachment but with optic atrophy. Isolated tuberculous involvement of the optic nerve may possible in the context of miliary tuberculosis. In this case, the adopted therapeutic approach to the initial papillitis, which was interpreted as ischemic, could favour the appearance of a neuroretinitis in the fellow eye.

Are Oral Mucosal Changes a Sign of COVID-19? A Cross-Sectional Study at a Field Hospital

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has many manifestations, including respiratory, thrombotic, neurologic, digestive, and cutaneous ones. Cutaneous manifestations have been classified into 5 clinical patterns: acro-ischemic (pseudo-chilblain), vesicular, urticarial, maculopapular, and livedoid. Oral manifestations have also been reported, but much less frequently.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study in which we examined the oral mucosa of 666 patients with COVID-19 at the IFEMA field hospital in Madrid in April 2020.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients (11.7%) had changes involving the oral mucosa. The most common were transient anterior U-shaped lingual papillitis (11.5%) accompanied or not by tongue swelling (6.6%), aphthous stomatitis (6.9%), a burning sensation in the mouth (5.3%), mucositis (3.9%), glossitis with patchy depapillation (3.9%), white tongue (1.6%), and enanthema (0.5%). Most of the patients also reported taste disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 also manifests in the oral cavity. The most common manifestations are transient U-shaped lingual papillitis, glossitis with patchy depapillation, and burning mouth syndrome. Mucositis with or without aphthous ulcers or enanthema may also be observed. Any these findings may be key clues to a diagnosis of COVID-19.

Optical neuropathy due to inhaled cocaine, causality or chance

A 44-year-old man, active cocaine consumer, who referred decrease in visual acuity in the right eye in 24 hours of evolution, being 0,05 in that eye and 1 in the left eye. The examination showed a relative afferent pupil defect and a swelling head of optic nerve. The systemic studies performed were normal, except the nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain that showed a thickening of the maxillary and frontal sinus mucosa, compatible with sinusitis. Hospital admission and the start of intravenous corticosteroid treatment were decided, with a favourable evolution, a visual acuity of 1.0 in both eyes and an anatomical improvement of the optic nerve head. Due to the medical history of the patient and the assessment of other plausible alternative diagnoses, we established the diagnosis of optical neuropathy due to inhaled cocaine abuse.

Leukaemic infiltration and cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia in complete remission

CLINICAL CASE

A 43-year-old woman in remission from T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was referred to our hospital with suspected leukaemic retinitis. The funduscopic examination of her left eye revealed multifocal yellow-white peripheral retinitis and retinal haemorrhage. The patient was treated for cytomegalovirus retinitis after an extended haematological investigation showed no abnormalities. Initial improvement was followed by papillitis in the left eye and motility restriction in the right eye. Magnetic resonance and lumbar puncture confirmed leukaemia relapse. Specific treatment was initiated with complete resolution.

DISCUSSION

Ocular involvement may precede haematological leukaemia relapse. Physicians should be alerted when ocular symptoms appear in these cases.