Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient

Abstract Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a member of the HHV family and is a rare cause of infectious uveitis. We report a case of a splenectomised patient, hospitalised due to invasive pneumococcal disease, who was diagnosed with retinitis in the right eye, with good visual acuity (0.1 LogMAR). Give...

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Main Authors: Joana Santos-Oliveira, Ana Maria Cunha, Ana Filipa Moleiro, Margarida Ribeiro, Sónia Torres-Costa, Cláudia Oliveira-Ferreira, Ana Catarina Pedrosa, Joana Araújo, Luís Figueira, Marta Silva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00460-2
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author Joana Santos-Oliveira
Ana Maria Cunha
Ana Filipa Moleiro
Margarida Ribeiro
Sónia Torres-Costa
Cláudia Oliveira-Ferreira
Ana Catarina Pedrosa
Joana Araújo
Luís Figueira
Marta Silva
author_facet Joana Santos-Oliveira
Ana Maria Cunha
Ana Filipa Moleiro
Margarida Ribeiro
Sónia Torres-Costa
Cláudia Oliveira-Ferreira
Ana Catarina Pedrosa
Joana Araújo
Luís Figueira
Marta Silva
author_sort Joana Santos-Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a member of the HHV family and is a rare cause of infectious uveitis. We report a case of a splenectomised patient, hospitalised due to invasive pneumococcal disease, who was diagnosed with retinitis in the right eye, with good visual acuity (0.1 LogMAR). Given the presence of HHV-6 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the cerebrospinal fluid and the serum and the coexistence of a severe central nervous system infection, the ophthalmological features were attributed to the HHV-6 infection. He was treated with topical corticosteroid eyedrops, cyclopentolate, and prednisolone acetate ointment and systemically with intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg bid for 14 days and then oral valganciclovir 900 mg bid for 4 weeks. The diagnosis was promptly presumed, enabling the early initiation of appropriate treatment and contributing to the preservation of the good visual acuity initially observed.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1869-5760
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
spelling doaj-art-8dd3035343fb4f5fa5ac3280e2c9ed162025-08-20T03:01:00ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection1869-57602025-02-011511610.1186/s12348-025-00460-2Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patientJoana Santos-Oliveira0Ana Maria Cunha1Ana Filipa Moleiro2Margarida Ribeiro3Sónia Torres-Costa4Cláudia Oliveira-Ferreira5Ana Catarina Pedrosa6Joana Araújo7Luís Figueira8Marta Silva9Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São JoãoAbstract Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a member of the HHV family and is a rare cause of infectious uveitis. We report a case of a splenectomised patient, hospitalised due to invasive pneumococcal disease, who was diagnosed with retinitis in the right eye, with good visual acuity (0.1 LogMAR). Given the presence of HHV-6 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the cerebrospinal fluid and the serum and the coexistence of a severe central nervous system infection, the ophthalmological features were attributed to the HHV-6 infection. He was treated with topical corticosteroid eyedrops, cyclopentolate, and prednisolone acetate ointment and systemically with intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg bid for 14 days and then oral valganciclovir 900 mg bid for 4 weeks. The diagnosis was promptly presumed, enabling the early initiation of appropriate treatment and contributing to the preservation of the good visual acuity initially observed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00460-2
spellingShingle Joana Santos-Oliveira
Ana Maria Cunha
Ana Filipa Moleiro
Margarida Ribeiro
Sónia Torres-Costa
Cláudia Oliveira-Ferreira
Ana Catarina Pedrosa
Joana Araújo
Luís Figueira
Marta Silva
Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
title Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
title_full Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
title_fullStr Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
title_full_unstemmed Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
title_short Retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6: a case study in a splenectomised patient
title_sort retinitis linked to human herpesvirus type 6 a case study in a splenectomised patient
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00460-2
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