Disseminated neurocysticercosis with bilateral papilledema: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ocular cysticercosis is a disease which rarely involves cutaneous skin and the optic nerve. Patients with clinical presentation of subcutaneous nodules and papilledema should always be evaluated for cysticercosis. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of ocular cysticercosis with multiple disseminated subcutaneous nodules and papilledema in both eyes. A 22-year-old Brahmin man presented with complaints of gradual loss of vision in both eyes and multiple small masses all over his body. On clinical evaluation, multiple subcutaneous nodules were seen on his face, mandibular area, elbow, arm, and abdomen. A fundus evaluation showed bilateral blurred disc margin. The case was managed with steroids and anti-parasitic drugs. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the importance of ruling out neurocysticercosis in cases with multiple disseminated subcutaneous nodules and papilledema.

Optic nerve involvement in ocular toxoplasmosis: 12 year data from a tertiary referral center in Turkey / Acometimento de nervo óptico na toxoplasmose ocular: um relato de 12 anos de um centro de referência terciário na Turquia

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and types of optic nerve involvement in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. Methods: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we examined all patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis referred to our Uveitis Section during the last 12 years, and we included patients with optic nerve involvement in the study. The primary outcome was the prevalence of optic nerve involvement, and secondary outcomes included the types of optic nerve involvement and the final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment. Results: The prevalence of optic nerve involvement was 14.4%, with the leading cause being the activation of a juxtapapillary lesion (70.5%). We found papillitis in two eyes and neuroretinitis in two eyes (11.7% for each). We only detected one optic nerve involvement secondary to a distant active lesion (5.8%). Sixteen patients (94.1%) had unilateral ocular toxoplasmosis. The overall final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment was 10/10 (LogMAR = 0.0) excluding the three patients with a juxtapapillary scar involving the macula. Conclusions: Optic nerve involvement was common in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. The main type of optic nerve involvement was caused by activation of an old juxtapapillary lesion. Treatment was quickly effective, but the best-corrected visual acuity was dependent on the presence of a scar in the papillomacular bundle.

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar a prevalência, características clínicas e tipos de acometimento do nervo óptico em pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular. Métodos: Para este estudo retrospectivo transversal, examinamos todos os pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular ativa encaminhados ao nosso Setor de Uveíte nos últimos 12 anos, e incluímos pacientes com comprometimento do nervo óptico no estudo. O resultado primário foi a prevalência do envolvimento do nervo óptico, e os resultados secundários incluíram os tipos de envolvimento do nervo óptico e a acuidade visual final melhor corrigida após o tratamento. Resultados: A prevalência de acometimento do nervo óptico foi 14,4%, sendo a principal causa a ativação de uma lesão justapapilar (70,5%). Encontramos papilite em dois olhos e neuroretinite em dois olhos (11,7% para cada um). Apenas detectamos um comprometimento do nervo óptico secundário a uma lesão ativa distante (5,8%). Dezesseis pacientes (94,1%) apresentavam toxoplasmose ocular unilateral. A acuidade visual final com melhor correção após o tratamento foi 10/10 (LogMAR= 0,0) excluindo os três pacientes com uma cicatriz justapapilar envolvendo a mácula. Conclusões: O comprometimento do nervo óptico foi comum em pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular. O principal tipo de comprometimento do nervo óptico foi causado pela ativação de uma lesão justapapilar antiga. O tratamento foi rapidamente eficaz, mas a acuidade visual final com melhor correção foi dependente da presença de uma cicatriz no feixe papilomacular.

Optic nerve involvement in ocular toxoplasmosis: 12 year data from a tertiary referral center in Turkey.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and types of optic nerve involvement in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we examined all patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis referred to our Uveitis Section during the last 12 years, and we included patients with optic nerve involvement in the study. The primary outcome was the prevalence of optic nerve involvement, and secondary outcomes included the types of optic nerve involvement and the final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of optic nerve involvement was 14.4%, with the leading cause being the activation of a juxtapapillary lesion (70.5%). We found papillitis in two eyes and neuroretinitis in two eyes (11.7% for each). We only detected one optic nerve involvement secondary to a distant active lesion (5.8%). Sixteen patients (94.1%) had unilateral ocular toxoplasmosis. The overall final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment was 10/10 (LogMAR = 0.0) excluding the three patients with a juxtapapillary scar involving the macula. CONCLUSIONS: Optic nerve involvement was common in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. The main type of optic nerve involvement was caused by activation of an old juxtapapillary lesion. Treatment was quickly effective, but the best-corrected visual acuity was dependent on the presence of a scar in the papillomacular bundle.

Toxocara optic neuropathy after ingestion of raw meat products.

PURPOSE: To report Toxocara optic neuropathy in five men with histories of ingestion of raw meat, liver, or blood. CASE REPORT: Five men in their 30s to 60s presented with unilateral visual disturbance. All five had a history of ingesting raw meat, liver, or blood products. All five men presented with optic disc edema and three also showed granulomatous infiltration of the retina. With Goldmann or Humphrey visual field testing, two patients showed central scotomas and two exhibited arcuate defects. Serum eosinophil count and total IgE were elevated in four patients. Serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing was positive for Toxocara canis IgG in all five cases. CONCLUSIONS: This report shows the variable clinical presentations of Toxocara optic neuropathy and the importance of questioning for a history of eating raw meat and blood products as a risk factor.

The absence of vitreous inflammation: one more challenge in diagnosing toxoplasma papillitis.

Toxoplasma is a leading cause of posterior uveitis in immunocompetent patients manifesting as a focal posterior retinochoroiditis. The clinical diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis is usually straightforward. There is typically a fluffy white retinal lesion which may lie adjacent to a pigmented chorioretinal scar and a prominent vitreous, or additionally, anterior chamber cellular reaction. Several unusual presentations in ocular toxoplasmosis have been reported, including: papillitis, neuroretinitis, retrobulbar neuritis, retinal detachment and macular oedema. This is a case of presumed primary toxoplasma papillitis in a 14-year-old child with complete absence of vitritis at presentation that made the diagnosis challenging. This evolved into neuroretinitis that resolved upon introducing antitoxoplasma antibiotics.

Using malarial retinopathy to improve the classification of children with cerebral malaria.

The mechanisms leading to death in cerebral malaria (CM) remain unclear. We compared clinical and laboratory data among children with CM, categorized by ocular fundus findings, to elucidate differences that suggest different underlying pathological processes. From 1999-2005, standard examinations, treatment and record keeping were used for children with a clinical diagnosis of CM. Children were divided into ocular subgroups: normal fundus (N), malarial retinopathy (R), or papilloedema alone (P) and appropriate statistical tests were used to compare clinical and laboratory findings among groups. Eight hundred and eighty children who had eye examinations within 6 h of admission were included in the analysis. The groups differed significantly in case-fatality rates: Group P, 44.4% (95% CI 25.3-63.2), Group R, 18.0% (95% CI 15.6-22.3) and Group N, 7.0% (95% CI 4.2-9.8). There were also significant differences among the groups in blood pressure, prevalence of deep breathing, haematocrit, parasite density, platelet concentration and, among survivors, hours taken to recover from coma. Differences among groups suggest that different underlying pathophysiological processes are operating in children with CM defined by existing criteria. Our proposed classification, by improving the specificity of diagnosis, would enhance consistency among different study sites and prove useful in future research studies.

Optic nerve changes in ocular toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and features of the different types of involvement of the optic nerve in ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study. All patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis, consulting in the Uveitis Section of the Ophthalmology Department were selected. The involvement of the optic nerve was classified in the following categories: juxtapapillary retinochoroiditis, pure papillitis, neuroretinitis, distant lesion, and mixed lesion. RESULTS: The prevalence of involvement of the optic nerve found was 5.3%. The optic nerve involvement with the presence of a concurrent active distant lesion, occurred in 22 eyes (43.1%). A juxtapapillary lesion was found in 18 eyes (35.3%). Eight eyes (15.7%) presented lesions characterised as mixed. Isolated papillitis occurred in 3 eyes (5.9%). Forty-seven lesions (95.9%) were unilateral and two (4.1%) were bilateral. Twenty-eight eyes (54.9%) had pre-existing lesions and 23 (45%) were primary lesions. Visual acuity improved in 35 eyes (71.4%) and remained unchanged in 14 eyes (28.5%). CONCLUSION: The involvement of the optic nerve most frequently found in ocular toxoplasmosis was optic nerve oedema with a concurrent distant active lesion. The second type of lesion most often found was juxtapapillary retinochoroiditis. Involvement was monocular in most cases and the visual prognosis was favourable.

A review of the spectrum of clinical ocular fundus findings in P. falciparum malaria in African children with a proposed classification and grading system.

Ocular fundus pathology in Plasmodium falciparum malaria is common and has prognostic significance. We have made a collaborative effort to document the ocular features in several populations. Based on examination of 735 patients in Malawi, Kenya and The Gambia by direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy with dilated pupils, we have determined that the 5 distinct clinical features (in order of frequency) include retinal whitening, haemorrhages, unique vessel abnormalities, papilloedema, and cotton wool spots. Photographs and descriptions of these are presented, along with a proposed grading scheme.

Ophthalmoscopic abnormalities in adults with falciparum malaria.

We studied 424 adults with falciparum malaria admitted over 28 months. They were divided into three groups: cerebral malaria (n = 214); severe non-cerebral malaria (n = 58); and uncomplicated malaria (n = 152). Fundus examination was done daily from admission to discharge, and weekly thereafter in those with persistent changes. All patients were treated by a protocol based on WHO guidelines. Ophthalmoscopic abnormalities were: retinal haemorrhages, 40 (9.43%) (25 cerebral malaria, 10 severe non-cerebral and five uncomplicated malaria); papilloedema, 17 (7.94%) cerebral malaria and two uncomplicated malaria; blurring of disc margins, 25 (11.68%) cerebral and seven non-cerebral; retinal oedema, six (2.80%) cerebral and five non-cerebral malaria; disc pallor, five patients all with cerebral malaria; vitreous haemorrhage and hard exudate in one patient each, both cerebral malaria. Retinal haemorrhage was associated with cerebral malaria and severe non-cerebral malaria, especially with severe anaemia (p < 0.001), as compared to uncomplicated malaria (p < 0.01). The association of papilloedema and cerebral malaria was highly significant compared to severe non-cerebral malaria (p < 0.001). None of these findings was associated with statistically significant mortality, except disc pallor in cerebral malaria (p < 0.05).

[Acute Trypanosoma brucei gambiense meningoencephalitis detected by papillary edema]. / Méningo-encéphalite aiguë à Typanosoma brucei gambiense révélée par un oedème papillaire.

A 26 year old woman, living in Brazzaville, was referred by her ophthalmologist about papillo-oedema. Neurological examination showed frontal syndrome and papillo-oedema without another sign of intracranial hypertension. Electroencephalogram revealed bilateral delta waves and bifrontal points. Significant inflammatory syndrome was noted. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed trypanosomes with an elevated rate of protein and cells. Treatment by tetracosactide and eflornithine gave a good recovery. Authors are stressing the disconcerting feature of this clinical form. An urban from of the disease and the fight against african trypanosomiasis are also discussed.

Hydatid cyst of the orbit with papilloedema.

A rare case of Hydatid cyst of the orbit causing, unilateral axial proptosis is reported. The presence of gross unilateral papilloedema misled us to the character of the cystic swelling causing axial proptosis.