title: Steroid-responsive HIV optic neuropathy.
abstract: A 37-year-old man with bilateral optic neuropathy who recovered on steroid treatment is described. He was subsequently found to be human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) positive prior to the onset of his visual symptoms, and no other cause of his optic neuropathy could be found. There is some evidence that HIV itself may be a cause of symptomatic optic neuropathy. A spontaneously relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis-like syndrome has previously been described in HIV-positive patients, and this may present with optic neuritis. A chronic optic neuritis in HIV-positive patients that is not usually symptomatically important has also been described. We review the literature related to these topics and our patient.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, England.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Leff
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Plant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone