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Case Reports
. 2021 Aug 9:2021:1056659.
doi: 10.1155/2021/1056659. eCollection 2021.

Eales' Disease: When the Rare Sounds Frequent

Beatriz Oliveira Lopes  1 , Margarida Sena Brízido  1 , Ana Isabel Reis  2 , Margarida Maria Miranda  1 , Susana Morais Pina  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Eales' Disease: When the Rare Sounds Frequent

Beatriz Oliveira Lopes et al. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. .

Abstract

Eales' disease is a peripheral occlusive retinal phlebitis, with an unclear pathogenesis. The classic association with hypersensitivity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein infers that immunologic disturbance may be involved. Here, we described three cases of Eales' disease. All patients are Caucasian men aged 27-58 years and presented with vitreous hemorrhage and/or peripheral venous vasculitis. Tuberculin skin sensitive test (Mantoux screening test) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) were positive in all patients. Therapeutic approach included antituberculosis therapy and systemic steroids, associated or not to immunosuppressive therapy, and retinal scatter photocoagulation in all cases. Antivascular endothelial grow factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections were also required in two cases. Since various retinal diseases can resemble this presentation, Eales' disease is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic approach are both essential to accomplish disease control and reduce ophthalmologic complications.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Retinography and fluorescein angiography evidencing (a) active venous vasculitis with perivascular hemorrhages and retinal ischemia in the nasal quadrants OD in patient 1and (b) after medical treatment and scatter laser photocoagulation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Image of ocular fundus showing (a) active venous vasculitis with hemorrhages in all retinal quadrants in both eyes in patient 2 and (b) after treatment, including scatter laser photocoagulation and intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Fluorescein angiography showing (a) retinal venous vasculitis, perivascular hemorrhages, and severe retinal ischemia in both eyes in patient 2 and (b) after treatment, including scatter laser photocoagulation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Fluorescein angiography showing significant occlusive vasculitis associated with peripheral ischemia, hemorrhages, and neovascularization in both eyes in patient 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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