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Review
. 2017 Jul-Aug;62(4):404-445.
doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2016.12.008. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Viral posterior uveitis

Joanne H Lee  1 , Aniruddha Agarwal  2 , Padmamalini Mahendradas  3 , Cecilia S Lee  4 , Vishali Gupta  2 , Carlos E Pavesio  5 , Rupesh Agrawal  6
Affiliations
Review

Viral posterior uveitis

Joanne H Lee et al. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

The causes of posterior uveitis can be divided into infectious, autoimmune, or masquerade syndromes. Viral infections, a significant cause of sight-threatening ocular diseases in the posterior segment, include human herpesviruses, measles, rubella, and arboviruses such as dengue, West Nile, and chikungunya virus. Viral posterior uveitis may occur as an isolated ocular disease in congenital or acquired infections or as part of a systemic viral illness. Many viruses remain latent in the infected host with a risk of reactivation that depends on various factors, including virulence and host immunity, age, and comorbidities. Although some viral illnesses are self-limiting and have a good visual prognosis, others, such as cytomegalovirus retinitis or acute retinal necrosis, may result in serious complications and profound vision loss. Since some of these infections may respond well to antiviral therapy, it is important to work up all cases of posterior uveitis to rule out an infectious etiology. We review the clinical features, diagnostic tools, treatment regimens, and long-term outcomes for each of these viral posterior uveitides.

Keywords: CMV retinitis; herpetic retinitis; polymerase chain reaction; posterior uveitis; viral posterior uveitis; viruses.

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Comment in

  • Viral Posterior Uveitis-Author's reply.
    Agrawal R. Agrawal R. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017 Nov-Dec;62(6):886. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2017.06.004. Epub 2017 Jun 10. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017. PMID: 28606632 No abstract available.
  • Reply to Lee and colleagues-Viral posterior uveitis.
    Steptoe PJ, Scott JT, Semple MG. Steptoe PJ, et al. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017 Nov-Dec;62(6):886-887. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2017.06.002. Epub 2017 Jun 15. Surv Ophthalmol. 2017. PMID: 28624250 No abstract available.

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