Bilateral optic neuropathy and unilateral tonic pupil associated with acute human herpesvirus 6 infection: a case report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a widespread virus and causative agent of exanthema subitum in children, has been associated with a number of neurologic disorders including cranial nerve palsies, seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, and multiple sclerosis.

PATIENT:

A 31-year-old man presented with bilateral optic neuropathy, disc edema, and unilateral tonic pupil, which were found to be associated with acute HHV-6 infection. The patient had been suffering from juvenile diabetes for 5 years. One week after onset of intravenous antiviral therapy with foscarnet, disc edema subsided, and tonic pupil reaction was no longer detectable.

CONCLUSIONS:

HHV-6 infection may play a role as a causative agent in patients with optic neuropathy and tonic pupil.

• Authors: Isabel M Oberacher-Velten, Jost B Jonas, Anselm Jünemann, Barbara Schmidt
• Journal: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie (Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol) Vol. 243 Issue 2 Pg. 175-7 (Feb 2005) ISSN: 0721-832X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 15742213 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Antiviral Agents
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M
• Foscarnet

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Eye Infections, Viral (diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)
• Foscarnet (therapeutic use)
• Herpesvirus 6, Human (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin M (analysis)
• Male
• Optic Nerve Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)
• Papilledema (diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)
• Roseolovirus Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)
• Tonic Pupil (diagnosis, drug therapy, virology)