Progressive outer retinal necrosis in a renal transplant recipient: a rare treatment success

Transpl Infect Dis. 2015 Jun;17(3):396-9. doi: 10.1111/tid.12385. Epub 2015 May 19.

Abstract

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are subject to a variety of opportunistic infections. We present a rare case of varicella zoster virus-derived progressive outer retinal necrosis in an RTR, who presented with painless visual blurring. This clinical entity heralds an extremely poor visual prognosis and is an important condition to consider in any immunocompromised host. Early diagnosis by aqueous fluid sampling and immediate institution of combined systemic and intravitreal antiviral therapy was successful in this individual.

Keywords: progressive outer retinal necrosis; renal transplantation; varicella zoster virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Necrosis
  • Retinitis / diagnosis*
  • Retinitis / drug therapy
  • Retinitis / virology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ganciclovir