The clinical features of 10 cases of acute retinal necrosis complicated by viral encephalitis

Abstract

To investigate the clinical features of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) complicated by viral encephalitis. Ten cases of ARN complicated by viral encephalitis were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital from November 2013 to August 2014. Clinical manifestation, especially the fundus characteristics, was summarized. In the10 patients (19 eyes; 6 men and 4 women) with an age of (40.1 +/- 13.44) years, 1 patients had unilateral ARN, and 9 patients had bilateral ARN. The visual acuity was no light perception in 9 eyes, light perception to hand motion in 7 eyes, 0.05 in 1 eye, 0.2 in 1 eye, and 0.3 in 1 eye. Seven cases suffered ARN during the onset of viral encephalitis, and other cases suffered ARN at 2 to 3 months after the recovery of viral encephalitis. Seventeen eyes had mild to moderate vitreous opacity, and 2 eye shad severe vitreous opacity. Sixteen eyes had focal (1 or 2 quadrants) retinal necrosis, and 2 eyes had massive ( > 2 quadrants) retinal necrosis. Occlusive vasculitis obviously occurred in 18 eyes. Sixteen eyeshad retinal detachment. All affected eyes had early optic nerve atrophy. ARN can occur during the onset of viral encephalitis or after the recovery of viral encephalitis. The clinical features of ARN complicated by viral encephalitis may be generally mild to moderate vitreous opacity,small range retinal necrosis foci, early and severe optic atrophy, and occlusive retinal vasculitis.