Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

COMMENTARY
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 66  |  Issue : 12  |  Page : 1844-

Commentary: Post fever retinitis and vasculitis: A morphological conundrum


Bhavik Panchal 
 Department of Vitreoretina and Uveitis Services, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Bhavik Panchal
Vitreoretina and Uveitis Services, L V Prasad Eye Institute, GMRV Campus, Visakhapatnam - 530 040, Andhra pradesh
India




How to cite this article:
Panchal B. Commentary: Post fever retinitis and vasculitis: A morphological conundrum.Indian J Ophthalmol 2018;66:1844-1844


How to cite this URL:
Panchal B. Commentary: Post fever retinitis and vasculitis: A morphological conundrum. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];66:1844-1844
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2018/66/12/1844/245617


Full Text



Post fever retinitis and vasculitis is the term used for describing the various retinal manifestations seen after a systemic febrile illness caused by either bacteria, viruses, or protozoa. These manifestations may be the result of a direct invasion by the pathogen or by indirect invasion mediated through immune-modulated mechanisms. Post fever retinitis and vasculitis as an entity usually manifests between 2 and 4 weeks after the fever in immunocompetent patients, irrespective of etiology.[1],[2] Patients typically present with diminution of vision that is sudden in onset and painless. Patients can have varied posterior segment manifestations, including focal and multifocal patches of retinitis which could be unilateral or bilateral, possible optic nerve involvement, serous detachment at the macula, macular edema and localized involvement of the retinal vessel in the form of beading of the vessel wall, tortuosity, and perivascular sheathing.

Looking back at the evidence from various case series and anecdotal case reports in the literature,[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] it is evident that the morphological appearance of the disease remains the same, irrespective of the cause of the fever. These manifestations seem to be a result of an immune-mediated mechanism. No treatment seems to be established based on the literature,[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] and patients may improve as a part of natural history.

One hypothesis that can be arrived based on our experience and reviewing the available literature is that a natural course does exist for post fever retinitis and vasculitis, wherein the manifestations start, leading to a peak of progression and finally terminating with resolution. An analogy can be The Bell Curve of normal distribution if the patient is examined on the ascending limb of the curve, a worsening would be noted despite treatment, whereas if the patient is seen when the manifestations have reached their peak, a resolution would be seen, irrespective of the treatment.

Post fever retinitis and vasculitis presents with a similar morphological pattern, irrespective of the etiology and it follows a preset natural course before resolution. This entity needs to be studied further to understand the natural history with histopathological and immunological aides to further understand the pathophysiology in detail.

References

1Vishwanath S, Badami K, Sriprakash KS, Sujatha BL, Shashidhar SD, Shilpa YD. Post-fever retinitis: A single center experience from south India. Int Ophthalmol 2014;34:851-7.
2Kawali A, Mahendradas P, Mohan A, Mallavarapu M, Shetty B. Epidemic retinitis. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018:1-7.
3Sivakumar RR, Prajna L, Arya LK, Muraly P, Shukla J, Saxena D, et al. Molecular diagnosis and ocular imaging of West Nile virus retinitis and neuroretinitis. Ophthalmology 2013;120:1820-6.
4Lalitha P, Rathinam S, Banushree K, Maheshkumar S, Vijayakumar R, Sathe P. Ocular involvement associated with an epidemic outbreak of chikungunya virus infection. Am J Ophthalmol 2007;144:552-6.
5Relhan N, Pathengay A, Albini T, Priya K, Jalali S, Flynn HW. A case of vasculitis, retinitis and macular neurosensory detachment presenting post typhoid fever. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect 2014;4:23.
6Unnikrishnan S, Raju KV. Ocular manifestations in mosquito-borne viral fevers. J Clin Ophthalmol Res 2017;5:77-80.
7Balasundaram MB, Manjunath M, Baliga G, Kapadi F. Ocular manifestations of Rickettsia conorii in South India. Indian J Ophthalmol 2018;66:1840-4.