Retinopathy in a patient with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection: follow-up analysis using spectral domain optical...

To describe the clinical findings, diagnostics, and differential diagnosis in a patient with retinopathy in acute systemic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Description of the clinical course of the EBV retinopathy was based on the medical record, photographs, and visual fields of the patient. Retinal morphology was visualized using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Heidelberg Engineering), and fluorescein angiography. Multiple serologic tests were performed to exclude different infectious agents. A 30-year-old male patient presented with a focal scotoma in his right visual field. One week ago, he suffered from high fever, joint pain, neck stiffness, and hepatitis; 2 weeks later, he had returned from a trip to Malaysia.

Visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Fundoscopy showed a paravascular sharp-edged white lesion with a corresponding crescent-shaped retinal nerve fiber defect. Serology revealed high titers for EBV immunoglobulin M (IgM), but no EBV immunoglobulin G (IgG), indicating an acute infectious mononucleosis. Other reasons for noninfectious or infectious retinochoroiditis including tropical microorganisms could be excluded serologically and by imaging. Treatment with systemic acyclovir and prednisolone acetate eye drops was initiated leading to recovery of systemic and ocular findings.

Acute systemic EBV infection can affect the retina leading to focal thickening of the inner retinal layers because of focal microinfarction (cotton-wool spot) or focal infectious infiltration. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography is capable of detecting changes in retinal morphology in such cases.