Optical Coherence Tomography Features of Endogenous Aspergillus Endophthalmitis Secondary to HIV Infection

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To report imaging findings, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), of a case of endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis in a patient with newly diagnosed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Methods

Observational case report.

Results

A 38-year-old patient presented with acute painful vision loss in his right eye (RE). Examination of the RE revealed anterior inflammation, vitritis and a fluffy macular infiltrate; OCT showed preretinal hyperreflective aggregates extending into the vitreous cavity with no evidence of subretinal and/or choroidal involvement. Lab tests showed leukopenia with lymphocyte T CD4+ count of 13 cells/μL and positive HIV serology. Vitreous biopsy was positive for Aspergillus niger and diagnosis of endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis secondary to HIV infection was made.

Conclusions

OCT findings of this case show that ocular aspergillosis may present with disruption of the inner retinal layers and sparing of the outer retina and choroid, suggesting that Aspergillus may reach the eye through the retinal circulation.

KEYWORDS:

• Aspergillus
• endogenous endophthalmitis
• optical coherence tomography
• retinal imaging
• uveitis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics declaration

Institutional review board approval was not required for this study, and all research adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Written consent has been obtained from the patient.

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.