Endogenous Fusarium endophthalmitis in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Am J Ophthalmol. 1994 Mar 15;117(3):363-8. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)73147-2.

Abstract

Endogenous fungal endophalmitis is an uncommon complication of systemic mycosis. Only a few cases involving Fusarium have been reported, most with unfavorable visual outcomes. We examined a 31-year-old woman with acute lymphocytic leukemia who developed sudden visual loss in her right eye. A dense, white placoid infiltrate was present in the right macula extending into the vitreous. An iris nodule and hypopyon were present in the left eye. A vitreous aspirate of the right eye was positive for Fusarium species. The patient progressively lost vision despite amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine therapy. She died from bronchopneumonia, fungemia, and multisystem failure. Histopathologic study disclosed a panophthalmitis with Fusarium organisms invading all the ocular coats in the right eye. Leukemic infiltrates were present in the left iris, anterior chamber, and trabecular meshwork. The ocular destructiveness of Fusarium may be caused by marked mycotic vascular invasion and occlusion with consequent infarction and necrosis of ocular tissues.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Endophthalmitis / drug therapy
  • Endophthalmitis / microbiology*
  • Endophthalmitis / pathology
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / pathology
  • Female
  • Fusarium / isolation & purification*
  • Fusarium / ultrastructure
  • Humans
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Vitreous Body / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents