Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy Associated with Acute Influenza Virus Infection

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: To describe a prospective case series of patients with acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) associated with acute influenza virus infection Methods: Patients who presented with acute macular neuroretinopathy associated with confirmed influenza virus infection were subject to a detailed clinical history, HLA typing and longitudinal ophthalmological and imaging examinations. Results: Four female patients aged 18 to 32 years were studied. They reported the onset of ocular symptoms between 2 and 5 days after the development of flu like symptoms. Three patients had confirmed acute influenza B infection, while the fourth had influenza A. OCT angiography only demonstrated abnormal choriocapillaris perfusion in 1 patient and early oral Oseltamivir treatment appeared not to affect the ophthalmic outcome in one patient. Conclusion: This is the first report of AMN associated with virologically confirmed acute influenza virus infection. Variation in HLA alleles do not appear to predispose patients to influenza associated AMN.