An unusual cause of optic neuritis: rickettsiosis disease

Optic neuritis (ON) may be associated to a range of autoimmune or infectious diseases. We report herein a case of ON induced by Rickettsia conorii. A 53-year-old woman presented with a recent decrease in visual acuity and headache. ON was diagnosed on the basis of ophthalmologic examination and flas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
Main Authors: Loukil Hanen, Snoussi Mouna, Frikha Faten, Ben Salah Raida, Jallouli Moez, Chérif Yosra, El Aoud Sahar, Marzouk Sameh, Bahloul Zouhir
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014
Subjects:
Optic neuritis
Rickettsia conorii
Mediterranean spotted fever
Ocular involvement
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Biology (General)
QH301-705.5
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.12980/APJTB.4.2014APJTB-2014-0359
https://doaj.org/article/b646db2376c74bfd8131e7e4d1d0a672
Description
Summary:Optic neuritis (ON) may be associated to a range of autoimmune or infectious diseases. We report herein a case of ON induced by Rickettsia conorii. A 53-year-old woman presented with a recent decrease in visual acuity and headache. ON was diagnosed on the basis of ophthalmologic examination and flash visual evoked potentials. Etiological investigation made in our department eliminated first autoimmune disorders (vasculitis and connective tissue diseases). Rickettsial optic neuritis was confirmed by detection of specific antibodies in serum and the negativity of other serologic tests. An association between corticosteroids and cyclines was prescribed with improvement of visual acuity.

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