Bilateral optic neuropathy and unilateral tonic pupil associated with acute human herpesvirus 6 infection: a case report

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2005 Feb;243(2):175-7. doi: 10.1007/s00417-004-0986-8. Epub 2004 Sep 10.

Abstract

Background: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a widespread virus and causative agent of exanthema subitum in children, has been associated with a number of neurologic disorders including cranial nerve palsies, seizures, encephalitis, meningitis, and multiple sclerosis.

Patient: A 31-year-old man presented with bilateral optic neuropathy, disc edema, and unilateral tonic pupil, which were found to be associated with acute HHV-6 infection. The patient had been suffering from juvenile diabetes for 5 years. One week after onset of intravenous antiviral therapy with foscarnet, disc edema subsided, and tonic pupil reaction was no longer detectable.

Conclusions: HHV-6 infection may play a role as a causative agent in patients with optic neuropathy and tonic pupil.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Eye Infections, Viral / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Viral / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Viral / virology*
  • Foscarnet / therapeutic use
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Male
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / drug therapy
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / virology*
  • Papilledema / diagnosis
  • Papilledema / drug therapy
  • Papilledema / virology
  • Roseolovirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Roseolovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Roseolovirus Infections / virology*
  • Tonic Pupil / diagnosis
  • Tonic Pupil / drug therapy
  • Tonic Pupil / virology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Foscarnet