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To describe the intra-ocular manifestations of cat-scratch disease (CSD) found at two uveitis reference centers in Brazil. Retrospective case series study. Review of clinical records of patients diagnosed with CSD in the Uveitis Department of São Geraldo Hospital and the Ophthalmology Department of the Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas-FIOCRUZ, from 2001 to 2008. In the 8-year period, 24 patients with the diagnosis of CSD were identified. Twelve patients were male and 12 female. The mean age was 27.04 years (range 7-56). Sixteen patients (66.6%) presented with a history of a cat scratch and all patients reported cat exposure. Visual acuity ranged from counting fingers to 1.0 in the affected eye. Thirteen patients presented with bilateral disease. Sixteen (66.6%) patients complained of systemic symptoms, including fever, lymphadenopathy, liver and spleen enlargement and rash. All patients presented with serum antibodies (IgG) to Bartonella henselae. Thirty-seven eyes were affected. The most common findings were small areas of retinal infiltrates which occurred in 11 eyes (29.7%) and angiomatous lesions which occurred in nine eyes (24.3%). Neuroretinitis occurred in only six eyes (16.2%). The most common findings of CSD in our study were retinal infiltrates and angiomatous lesions. CSD patients may present with significant visual loss. Patients may benefit from systemic treatment with antibiotics.

OBJETIVOS: Documentar características clínicas, associações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução de 23 pacientes com esclerite posterior, examinados no serviço de uveítes da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. MÉTODOS: Revisão de todos os pacientes com esclerite atendidos neste serviço, de 1999 até 2006, para identificar aqueles com esclerite posterior. Identificados 23 pacientes, registrados e analisados os dados com relação aos sinais e sintomas oculares, visão, alterações na ecografia, manifestações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução. RESULTADOS: Dezesseis pacientes do sexo feminino e 7 do sexo masculino com média de idade de 44,7 anos. Esclerite posterior ocorreu associada à esclerite anterior em 10 pacientes, envolvimento unilateral em 17 pacientes e, bilateral simultâneo, em 6 pacientes. Esclerite posterior associada à doença sistêmica ocorreu em 8 pacientes (síndrome de Cogan, tuberculose, granulomatose de Wegener, herpes simples e zoster, aspergilose, retocolite-ulcerativa e sarcoidose). A principal queixa foi dor ocular seguida de embaçamento visual e o sinal fundoscópico que predominou foi o descolamento seroso de retina. O achado mais comum na ecografia foi espessamento da parede escleral observado em 18 pacientes e a principal forma de tratamento, o uso de corticóide sistêmico. Somente 4 pacientes necessitaram de imunossupressor. CONCLUSÃO: Esclerite posterior é doença de difícil diagnóstico e pode ser potencialmente devastadora. Análises estatísticas são incapazes de revelar outras características específicas da esclerite posterior, características clínicas dos pacientes e evolução da doença que poderiam ajudar na identificação dos casos com maior risco de perda visual ou com maior probabilidade de doença sistêmica. PURPOSE: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 23 patients with posterior scleritis evaluated in the Uveitis service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. METHODS: 23 patients were identified with the diagnosis of posterior scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were female and seven were male with mean age of 44,7 years. Posterior scleritis occurred in association with anterior scleritis in 10 patients, unilateral involvement in 17 patients and simultaneous bilateral involvement in 6 patients. Posterior scleritis in association with systemic disease occurred in 8 patients (Cogan's syndrome, TBC, Wegener, Herpes simplex and Zoster, Apergilosis, inflamatory bowel disease and Sarcoidosis). The main symptoms were ocular pain and decrease of visual acuity and the main signal was retinal serous detachment. Increase of thickness choroidal tissue was the main signal in B-mode ultrasonography in 18 patients and the principal kind of treatment was the use of systemic corticosteroids. Only 4 patients required systemic immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior scleritis still represents a diagnostic challenge and is often associated with life threatening systemic disease and vision threatening ocular complications. Knowledge of posterior scleritis may aid in determining timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of both ocular and any systemic conditions associated, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality. Elevated suspicion rate is always required to detect this condition.

OBJETIVOS: Documentar características clínicas, associações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução de 100 pacientes com esclerite, examinados no serviço de uveítes da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Identificados 100 pacientes com esclerite, registrados e analisados dados com relação às queixas dos mesmos, sinais oculares, visão, alterações ecográficas, manifestações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução. RESULTADOS: Sessenta e nove pacientes eram mulheres e 31 homens. Esclerite anterior difusa e nodular ocorreu em 71 pacientes, esclerite anterior necrosante em 3, esclerite posterior em 24 e escleromalácia perfurans em 2 pacientes. Envolvimento unilateral em 79 e bilateral em 21 pacientes. A principal queixa foi dor ocular e o sinal fundoscópico predominante na esclerite posterior foi o descolamento seroso de retina. Em 13 pacientes a esclerite determinou o encontro de doença sistêmica e a principal forma de tratamento foi com droga anti-inflamatória não-esteróide oral. Dezoito pacientes precisaram de tratamento imunossupressor para o controle do quadro ocular e a incidência de complicação ocular foi de 35%. DISCUSSÃO: Esclerite é doença rara, às vezes de difícil diagnóstico e potencialmente devastadora, todos os esforços devem ser necessários para um diagnóstico rápido e correto dessa doença. O conhecimento sobre a esclerite, suas formas de apresentação, associações sistêmicas, tratamento e evolução são fundamentais para que possamos fazer este diagnóstico correto e conduzir o quadro ocular da maneira mais adequada possível tendo sempre como objetivo final o controle do quadro escleral e preservação da visão do paciente. PURPOSE: To document the clinical features, systemic association, treatment and evolution of 100 patients with scleritis evaluated at the Uveitis Service of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 patients were identified with the diagnosis of scleritis. Signals and symptoms, visual acuity, B-mode ultrasonography signals, systemic associations, treatment and evolution were described and analyzed. RESULTS: 69 patients were female and 31 were male. Diffuse and nodular anterior scleritis occurred in 71 patients, necrotizing anterior scleritis in 3, posterior scleritis in 24 and escleromalacia perforans in 2 patients. Unilateral involvement occurred in 79 patients and bilateral involvement in 21 patients. The main symptoms were ocular pain and redness and the main signal in posterior scleritis was the serous detachment of the retina. Scleritis in association with systemic disease occurred in 35 patients and the principal kind of treatment was the use of oral NSAIDs. Only 18 patients required systemic immunosuppressive drugs. Ocular complications were detected in 35 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Scleritis may represent a diagnostic challenge and is often associated with life threatening systemic disease and vision threatening ocular complications. Knowledge of scleritis may aid in determining timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of both the ocular and any associated systemic conditions, thus decreasing morbidity and mortality.

Fuchs' heterochromic cyclitis (FHC) is a chronic anterior segment inflammatory syndrome that accounts for 2 to 3% of all uveitis cases. The etiology is unknown, but Herpes simplex, ocular toxoplasmosis and rubella infection have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. It occurs more commonly in the third and fourth decades of life with an equal gender distribution. Patients are usually asymptomatic but may present with floaters and blurry vision. There is a mild but persistent anterior chamber reaction with diffuse and characteristic white stellate keratic precipitates. Iris and trabecular meshwork show abnormal vessels that may sometimes lead to a hyphema. Synechia formation is uncommon. Heterochromia is considered an important feature and accounts for the name, but it is variable depending on the intensity of the anterior stromal atrophy, initial iris color and amount of pigment in the iris pigmented epithelium. Progression of the disease is associated with cataract formation and glaucoma. Anti-inflammatory treatment is not indicated for the low-grade anterior chamber reaction seen in Fuchs' patients. Occasionally, a short course of corticosteroids is indicated if a symptomatic exacerbation occurs. The long-term prognosis is good, and patients usually maintain a visual acuity of 20/40 or better.

Purpose To report an uncommon case of multifocal choroiditis as the result of disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans infection in a patient who is HIV-positive. Design Interventional case report. Methods A 27-year-old HIV-positive woman with fever, headache, and vomiting was examined. Lumbar puncture was performed and revealed C neoformans infection. Her condition evolved with sudden bilateral blindness and deafness. Ophthalmologic examination revealed multiple yellowish choroidal lesions in the posterior pole of both eyes. Results Postmortem examination showed disseminated C neoformans infection. Histologic examination of the eyes confirmed the presence of C neoformans in the choroids. Conclusion Multifocal choroiditis in C neoformans infection is a rare ophthalmic manifestation. The recognition of this condition by ophthalmologists can help physicians to diagnose a disseminated and fatal disease.

The case is described of a 51-y-old man with uveitis as the first clinical manifestation of syphilis and in whom laboratory work-up disclosed human immunodeficiency virus infection and asymptomatic brain gummata. The case illustrates the need for a comprehensive work-up in previously asymptomatic patients with uveitis.

Purpose To characterize ocular manifestations of cat-scratch disease in HIV-positive patients. Design Retrospective case series study. Methods Records and photography of patients with the diagnosis of cat-scratch disease and HIV were reviewed. Results From 2001 and 2004 three patients with cat-scratch disease and HIV were identified. All patients presented with subretinal mass associated with an abnormal vascular network. Fluorescein angiography revealed this abnormal vascular network more clearly. All patients were treated with antibiotics alone with good response. Conclusions Subretinal mass associated with abnormal vascular network is characteristic of cat-scratch disease in HIV-positive patients. Fluorescein angiography is important to characterize this vascular pattern, and patients may benefit from systemic treatment.