Retinal vasculitis occurring with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To report severe retinal vasculitis causing decreased vision in three patients with the common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.


METHODS
Case report. Three patients with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome developed decreased vision secondary to retinal vasculitis. Fluorescein angiography was performed in all three patients. Peribulbar injections were given in one patient, and two patients were treated with oral steroids and cyclosporin.


RESULTS
All three patients were young and had classic common variable immunodeficiency syndrome. Bilateral retinal vasculitis and diffuse retinal edema were present in all three patients, and two patients had retinal neovascularization in the absence of ischemia. No evidence of intraocular infection was present, and none was detected systematically. Visual acuity decreased in five of the six eyes and was responsive to treatment in only one patient (both eyes).


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal vasculitis may be another autoimmune manifestation of common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.
van Meurs
J C
JC
The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, The Netherlands. janvanmeurs@compuserve.com
Lightman
S
S
de Waard
P W
PW
Baarsma
G S
GS
van Suijlekom-Smit
L W
LW
van de Merwe
J P
JP
de Groot
R
R
D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000150:complications*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D013577:Syndrome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016572:Cyclosporine