Human immunodeficiency virus and bilateral optic atrophy

Abstract

Two HIV-positive patients presented with optic atrophy of unknown etiology. One, a 27-year-old female, presented with a six-month history of worsening fatigue, weight loss, memory loss, and progressive vision loss in both eyes. The second patient, a 25-year-old male, presented with vision loss and recurrent headaches. These patients are presented in detail with neurologic, ophthalmologic, laboratory, and radiographic findings. In addition, similar cases from the literature are reviewed. We postulate that both patients had a primary HIV optic neuropathy and discuss potential mechanisms of pathogenesis.