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Published on: September 26, 2019
Posterior segment involvement in cat-scratch disease: A case series
C Tolou1, L Mahieu1, G Martin-Blondel2
1Unité de rétine, consultation d'ophtalmologie, hôpital Pierre-Paul-Riquet, CHU de Toulouse, place Baylac, 31059 Toulouse cedex, France.
Introduction:
Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a systemic infectious disease. The most well-known posterior segment presentation is neuroretinitis with a macular star. In this study, we present a case series emphasising the heterogeneity of the disease and the various posterior segment manifestations.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective case series of consecutive patients presenting with posterior segment CSD, over a 5-year period (2010 to 2015), at two ophthalmological centres in Midi-Pyrénées.
Results:
Twelve patients (17 eyes) were included, of whom 11 (92%) presented with rapidly decreasing visual acuity, with 6 of these (50%) extremely abrupt. CSD was bilateral in 5 (42% of all patients). Posterior manifestations were: 12 instances of optic nerve edema (100%), 8 of focal chorioretinitis (67%) and only 6 of the classic macular edema with macular star (25% at first examination, but 50% later). Other ophthalmological complications developed in three patients; one developed acute anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, one a retrohyaloid hemorrhage and one a branch retinal artery occlusion, all secondary to occlusive focal vasculitis adjacent to focal chorioretinitis.
Conclusion:
Classical neuroretinitis with macular star is not the only clinical presentation of CSD. Practitioners should screen for Bartonella henselae in all patients with papillitis or focal chorioretinitis.

