Chronic cytomegalovirus necrotizing retinitis in a patient with scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disease

The case is presented of a 52-year-old woman with scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, and interstitial lung disease, who developed chronic cytomegalovirus necrotizing retinitis while on treatment with prednisone, mycophenolate, and hydroxychloroquine. Initially diagnosed as macular hole, the patient underwent a pars plana vitrectomy. Two months after surgery, due to progressive worsening, the diagnosis was made and treatment started (intravenous and intravitreal ganciclovir). The patient developed severe macular atrophy with final visual acuity of counting fingers. A chronic retinal necrosis can be caused by cytomegalovirus infection in non-HIV patients with partial immune dysfunction from other causes, characterized by a slowly progressive granular retinitis with occlusive vasculitis.