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Secondary glaucoma associated with bilateral Aspergillus niger endophthalmitis in an HIV-positive patient: case

Jayter Silva Paula1, Agostinho Bryk, Argemiro Lauretti Filho

  • 1Departamento de Oftalmologia, Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. jayterdepaula@yahoo.com.br

Arquivos Brasileiros De Oftalmologia
|August 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Aspergillus endophthalmitis, an eye infection, can occur in HIV patients without systemic disease. This rare case highlights the need to consider Aspergillus niger in non-injecting drug users with HIV, even without signs of widespread infection.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Aspergillus endophthalmitis typically arises from disseminated infections in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Intraocular fungal infections pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

  • A rare case of severe bilateral glaucoma was observed in an HIV-infected patient.
  • The glaucoma was secondary to an intraocular infection caused by Aspergillus niger.
  • No systemic focus of aspergillosis or evidence of injection drug use was detected.

Findings:

  • Aspergillus niger was identified as the causative agent of endophthalmitis.
  • The agent was confirmed through inoculation in experimental animals.
  • This case demonstrates an intraocular infection in the absence of systemic disease.

Implications:

  • Aspergillus endophthalmitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of HIV-infected patients, including non-injecting drug users.
  • Ophthalmologists and infectious disease specialists must maintain a high index of suspicion for fungal endophthalmitis in at-risk populations.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent vision loss in cases of fungal endophthalmitis.

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