Inflammatory Retinal Diseases

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Posterior Uveitis & Basics - Eye's Inner Turmoil

  • Inflammation of posterior segment: choroid (choroiditis), retina (retinitis), or both (chorioretinitis); may involve retinal vessels (vasculitis).
  • Key Symptoms: Floaters, ↓ vision, photophobia; pain less common than anterior uveitis.
  • Cardinal Signs:
    • Vitritis (vitreous cells/haze) - hallmark.
    • Chorioretinal inflammatory lesions (yellowish/white patches, fuzzy borders).
    • Retinal vasculitis (sheathing, occlusion).
  • Broad Etiology:
    • Infectious (e.g., Toxoplasma, TB, CMV, Syphilis).
    • Non-infectious/Autoimmune (e.g., Sarcoidosis, Behçet's, VKH, Birdshot).
  • Diagnosis: Clinical; supported by FFA, ICG, OCT, lab investigations. Fundus photo: Posterior uveitis with chorioretinal lesion

⭐ Vitritis, appearing as hazy vision and cells/flare in the vitreous, is a cardinal sign of posterior uveitis.

Infectious Retinal Disease - Microbial Mayhem

  • Bacterial Retinitis/Endophthalmitis
    • Etiology: Post-op (e.g., cataract surgery), post-trauma, endogenous spread.
    • Signs: Rapid vision ↓, pain, hypopyon, severe vitritis.
    • Tx: Prompt intravitreal antibiotics (e.g., Vancomycin + Ceftazidime).
  • Viral Retinitis
    • CMV Retinitis:
      • Setting: Immunocompromised (AIDS, CD4 < 50 cells/$\text{µL}$).
      • Appearance: Indolent; "pizza pie" / "cottage cheese & ketchup" (hemorrhages, exudates).
      • Tx: Ganciclovir (systemic/intravitreal), Foscarnet.
    • Acute Retinal Necrosis (ARN):
      • Etiology: HSV, VZV; often in immunocompetent individuals.
      • Features: Rapidly progressive peripheral necrotizing retinitis, occlusive vasculitis, prominent vitritis. "Brushfire" border.
      • Tx: IV Acyclovir, systemic steroids (after antivirals initiated).
    • Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis (PORN):
      • Etiology: VZV; severe immunocompromise (e.g., AIDS).
      • Features: Rapid, widespread necrosis; minimal vitritis; poor prognosis.
      • Tx: Aggressive combination antivirals.
  • Fungal Retinitis/Endophthalmitis
    • Etiology: Candida (common in IV drug users, indwelling catheters), Aspergillus.
    • Appearance: Fluffy white chorioretinal lesions; Candida may show "string of pearls" in vitreous.
    • Tx: Systemic & intravitreal antifungals (e.g., Amphotericin B, Voriconazole).
  • Parasitic Retinochoroiditis
    • Toxoplasmosis: Most common cause of infectious posterior uveitis. Fundus of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis

      ⭐ Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis classically presents as a 'headlight in the fog' appearance due to focal necrotizing retinitis adjacent to an old pigmented scar, with overlying vitritis.

      • Tx: Triple therapy (Pyrimethamine, Sulfadiazine, Corticosteroids). 📌 Mnemonic: "PSC" for treatment.
    • Toxocariasis (Ocular Larva Migrans - OLM):
      • Population: Typically children (exposure to soil contaminated with dog/cat feces).
      • Presentation: Unilateral vision ↓, strabismus; posterior pole granuloma, peripheral granuloma, or chronic endophthalmitis.
      • Tx: Corticosteroids; antihelminthics (e.g., Albendazole) for active larva.

Non-Infectious Retinal Disease - Immune Overdrive

  • Autoimmune/autoinflammatory processes targeting retina/uvea; often bilateral with systemic links. Management: corticosteroids, immunosuppressants.
  • Behçet's Disease:
    • Systemic vasculitis (recurrent oral/genital ulcers, skin lesions).
    • Ocular: Severe panuveitis, hypopyon, occlusive retinal vasculitis (arteritis > phlebitis), retinal hemorrhages, neovascularization, optic atrophy.
    • HLA-B51 association.

    ⭐ Bilateral, occlusive retinal vasculitis is a hallmark of Behçet's disease and can lead to severe vision loss.

  • Sarcoidosis:
    • Multisystem granulomatous disorder.
    • Ocular: Uveitis (any part), "candle-wax drippings" periphlebitis (venous sheathing), choroidal/optic nerve granulomas, CME.
    • ↑ Serum ACE, lysozyme; CXR for hilar lymphadenopathy.
  • Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) Syndrome:
    • Targets melanocytes; HLA-DR4.
    • Phases: Prodromal (flu-like, meningism) → Ophthalmic (bilateral granulomatous panuveitis, multifocal serous RD, disc hyperemia) → Convalescent (sunset glow fundus, vitiligo, poliosis).
  • Sympathetic Ophthalmia:
    • Rare bilateral granulomatous panuveitis after penetrating trauma/surgery to one eye (exciting eye).
    • Dalen-Fuchs nodules (epithelioid cells over RPE).
  • Birdshot Chorioretinopathy:
    • Chronic, bilateral posterior uveitis; strong HLA-A29 association (>90%).
    • Creamy, ovoid "birdshot" lesions deep, radiating from optic disc; vitritis, vasculitis, CME. Fundus images showing birdshot lesions in chorioretinopathy

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Toxoplasmosis: Most common infectious posterior uveitis; classic "headlights in fog" appearance.
  • CMV retinitis: Affects AIDS patients (CD4 < 50); "pizza pie" or "cottage cheese & ketchup" fundus.
  • ARN: Caused by herpes viruses (VZV/HSV); presents with peripheral necrosis, vasculitis, and vitritis.
  • Sarcoidosis: Features retinal periphlebitis ("candle wax drippings") and choroidal granulomas.
  • Behcet's disease: Associated with HLA-B51; causes occlusive retinal vasculitis and hypopyon.
  • Ocular Toxocariasis: Unilateral in children; posterior pole granuloma or peripheral inflammatory mass.

Practice Questions: Inflammatory Retinal Diseases

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Which of the following conditions is associated with granulomatous uveitis?

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Flashcards: Inflammatory Retinal Diseases

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Posterior uveitis includes _____ and/or retinitis

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Posterior uveitis includes _____ and/or retinitis

choroiditis

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