Ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmological involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome: a case report

Abstract

Background: It is well known that different types of eye involvement may develop during the course of systemic vasculitides.

Methods: We report here a case of Churg-Strauss syndrome (allergic granulomatous angiitis) characterized by the presence of multiple ophthalmological and neuro-ophthalmological lesions, i.e., mononeuritis of the fourth cranial nerve, multifocal choroidal ischaemia, and bilateral ischaemic optic neuropathy.

Results: Ischaemic lesions in the posterior ciliary plexus and chorio-retinal circulation, which appeared simultaneously after a phase of disease activity, were documented.

Conclusion: The simultaneous occurrence of multiple ocular features in a patient with Churg-Strauss syndrome suggests that regional vasculitis may be the pathological mechanism underlying the multiple ophthalmological lesions in this disorder.