Further observations concerning the diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis syndrome.
Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) is a clinical syndrome characterized early by visual loss, vitritis, papillitis, and recurrent crops of gray-white retinal lesions and later by progressive visual loss, optic atrophy, retinal vessel narrowing, and diffuse pigment epithelial degeneration. Evidence is presented that it is caused by a nematode that is probably not Toxocara canis; that at least two nematodes of different sizes are involved; that there are at least two endemic areas for the disease; that these areas are related to the size of the nematode; that the nematode may remain viable in the eye for three years or longer and cause progressive ocular damage; that thiabendazole and diethylcarbamazine citrate are ineffective therapeutically; and that photocoagulation is effective in destroying the nematode. Surgical excision of the nematode was attempted in two patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004596:Electroretinography; D005123:Eye / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008028:Light Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009348:Nematoda / Q000254:growth & development; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000150:complications*; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome; D014792:Visual Acuity