[Bilateral panuveitis with serous retinal detachment]

Universitäts-Augenklinik, Innsbruck, Osterreich. Anke.Ramharter@i-med.ac.at

HISTORY: A 45-year-old patient with cat scratch disease presented with bilateral panuveitis as well as bilateral serous detachment of the retina. The patient had suffered from influenza with swollen lymph nodes 2 weeks previously. DIAGNOSIS: The diagnosis could be made serologically: IgG and IgM antibodies against Bartonella henselae were highly positive in the immunofluorescence test and the values for inflammation were also strongly increased. THERAPY: A macular star developed during the course, more in the left eye than in the right eye. The patient was treated with a sulfonamide (Bactrim forte) and prednisolonacetate (Urbason), which was changed to doxyzycline (Doxybene) after an allergic reaction developed. Clinical findings were reduced significantly and visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: Bartonella henselae should be excluded when panuveitis occurs with serous retinal detachment. A uveitis anterior could precede this occurrence.

PMID: 18696078 [PubMed - in process]