Early vitrectomy and diagnostic testing in severe infectious posterior uveitis and endophthalmitis.
BACKGROUND
To determine the therapeutic and diagnostic value of vitreoretinal surgery in various types of severe viral retinitis and endogenous endophthalmitis.


METHODS
Pars plana vitrectomy with silicon-oil tamponade was performed on 12 eyes (12 patients) with severe viral retinitis and endogenous endophthalmitis. The mean age of the patients was 35.2 years (range, 18-56 years). Investigations consisted of chest radiography, RT 23, serology (for toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus), and routine blood tests and urinalysis. Examination of vitreous samples consisted of polymerase chain reaction for cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and cultures for fungi and bacteria. The results were analyzed 7 days and 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Analysis of vitreous samples showed cytomegalovirus in 3 patients, herpes simplex virus in 2, tuberculosis in 2, and Candida albicans in 5. All patients had improvement in visual acuity and severity of clinical signs seven days after surgery and in 10 cases after long-term follow-up. Final visual acuity was compromised by chronic macular edema, postinflammatory macular scarring, optic atrophy, subcapsular cataract formation, and capsular opacification after cataract surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Modern laboratory tests are useful for quick and accurate diagnosis of atypical cases of severe infectious posterior uveitis. Early pars plana vitrectomy with silicon oil tamponade is valuable in diagnosing and treating severe infectious posterior uveitis and endophthalmitis.
Department of Ophthalmology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Turno-Krecicka
Marta
M
Misiuk-Hojlo
Andrzej
A
Grzybowski
Jolanta
J
Oficjalska-Młynczak
Małgorzata
M
Jakubowska-Kopacz
Joanna
J
Jurowska-Liput
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*