{"title":"Syphilitic Neuroretinitis with Positive Cytomegalovirus Serology in an Immunocompetent Adolescent: A Case Report.","authors":"Sundip Dware Chhetri, Meena Kunwar, Ram Krishna Baral, Alina Karki, Sabina Maharjan, Basanta Kumar Bastola, Mohini Thapa, Bibek Pun, Sudeep Lal Rajbhandari","doi":"10.1159/000553652","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Neuroretinitis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy characterized by optic disc edema followed by macular star formation. It is most commonly caused by <i>Bartonella henselae</i>, but other infectious etiologies including syphilis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) should be considered, particularly due to their potential for severe visual morbidity if untreated.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 17-year-old immunocompetent female presented with unilateral visual blurring and headache. Ophthalmologic examination revealed optic disc edema, macular star exudates, and peripapillary hemorrhages in the right eye. Dermatologic examination revealed features consistent with secondary syphilis, and the diagnosis was further supported by laboratory investigations confirming syphilis. Serologic testing also demonstrated positive CMV IgM and IgG antibodies. HIV testing was negative. The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and ganciclovir followed by oral valganciclovir. Complete anatomical and functional recovery was achieved with restoration of visual acuity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This case highlights the importance of comprehensive infectious evaluation in neuroretinitis, even in immunocompetent individuals. Early diagnosis and appropriate targeted antimicrobial therapy are essential to prevent permanent visual loss.</p>","PeriodicalId":9635,"journal":{"name":"Case Reports in Ophthalmology","volume":"17 1","pages":"924-933"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13588612/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Case Reports in Ophthalmology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000553652","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Neuroretinitis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy characterized by optic disc edema followed by macular star formation. It is most commonly caused by Bartonella henselae, but other infectious etiologies including syphilis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) should be considered, particularly due to their potential for severe visual morbidity if untreated.
Case presentation: A 17-year-old immunocompetent female presented with unilateral visual blurring and headache. Ophthalmologic examination revealed optic disc edema, macular star exudates, and peripapillary hemorrhages in the right eye. Dermatologic examination revealed features consistent with secondary syphilis, and the diagnosis was further supported by laboratory investigations confirming syphilis. Serologic testing also demonstrated positive CMV IgM and IgG antibodies. HIV testing was negative. The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and ganciclovir followed by oral valganciclovir. Complete anatomical and functional recovery was achieved with restoration of visual acuity.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of comprehensive infectious evaluation in neuroretinitis, even in immunocompetent individuals. Early diagnosis and appropriate targeted antimicrobial therapy are essential to prevent permanent visual loss.
期刊介绍:
This peer-reviewed online-only journal publishes original case reports covering the entire spectrum of ophthalmology, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, toxicities of therapy, supportive care, quality-of-life, and survivorship issues. The submission of negative results is strongly encouraged. The journal will also accept case reports dealing with the use of novel technologies, both in the arena of diagnosis and treatment. Supplementary material is welcomed. The intent of the journal is to provide clinicians and researchers with a tool to disseminate their personal experiences to a wider public as well as to review interesting cases encountered by colleagues all over the world. Universally used terms can be searched across the entire growing collection of case reports, further facilitating the retrieval of specific information. Following the open access principle, the entire contents can be retrieved at no charge, guaranteeing easy access to this valuable source of anecdotal information at all times.