Endogenous cryptococcal endophthalmitis

Occurrence of cryptococcal endophthalmitis is rare and commonly is associated with widespread disseminated diseases. The authors report here a well-documented case of endogenous cryptococcal endophthalmitis without the preceding meningeal infection.

A 45-year-old female with a history of long-term use of systemic corticosteroid and cytotoxic drugs for systemic lupus erythematosus suffered from progressive visual loss in her left eye over 1 month. Large exudative retinal detachment and severe vitreous infiltration were observed.

Histopathologic study of the retinal biopsy specimen established the diagnosis of cryptococcal endophthalmitis. Subsequent positive histopathologic study of the aspiration vitreous smear and epiretinal membrane confirmed the recurrence and persistence of the disease over 4 months after the initial presentation. Systemic amphotericin B-fluconazole and two doses of intravitreous amphotericin B injection eliminated the infection successfully.

The authors report here a well-documented case of cryptococcal endophthalmitis and present the serial clinical and histopathologic pictures. The importance of retinal biopsy in diagnosis and the combined form of antifungal treatment also are shown.