title: Progressive outer retinal necrosis presenting as cherry red spot.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) presenting as a cherry red spot.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 53-year-old woman with recently diagnosed HIV and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) aseptic meningitis developed rapid sequential vision loss in both eyes over 2 months. Her exam showed a "cherry red spot" in both maculae with peripheral atrophy and pigmentary changes, consistent with PORN. Due to her late presentation and the rapid progression of her condition, she quickly developed end-stage vision loss in both eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PORN should be considered within the differential diagnosis of a "cherry red spot." Immune-deficient patients with a history of herpetic infection who present with visual loss warrant prompt ophthalmological evaluation.
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yiu
authors.forename: Lucy H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000821:virology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000821:virology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009081:Mucolipidoses / Q000821:virology*; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000821:virology*; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir