eISSN: 1732-2707
ISSN: 1730-1270
HIV & AIDS Review. International Journal of HIV-Related Problems
Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
3/2020
vol. 19
 
Share:
Share:
Case report

Orbital apex syndrome as an unusual complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus in HIV-positive young man: a case report

Saidatulakma Shariff
1, 2
,
Nur Najwa Suhaifi
1
,
Tan Chai Keong
1
,
Akmal Haliza Zamli
1
,
Khairy Shamel Sonny Teo
2

1.
Department of Opthalmology, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Jalan Maran, 25100 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
2.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
HIV AIDS Rev 2020; 19, 3: 212-216
Online publish date: 2020/10/09
Article file
- HIV-00269-Teo.pdf  [1.88 MB]
Get citation
 
PlumX metrics:
 

Introduction

Herpes zoster (HZ) is typically characterized by painful, blistering, dermatome distributed vesicular rashes. It results from reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in sensory ganglia, after a long latency period, following primary infection from varicella. HZ is quite common, as in the United States, approximately 1 million new cases are reported per year, and HZ occurs in 1 in 3 persons [1]. Although, the rate of HZ increases with age, over half of all cases occur under the age of 60 years. In elderly, the pain may continue to persist after the rash heals and develops into postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Moreover, HZ also causes neurological sequelae, HZ ophthalmicus (HZO) with eye involvement or disseminated disease [2]. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) specifically is caused by reactivation of latent varicella infection in the trigeminal ganglion, involving ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve [3, 4]. Between 20 to 70% of patients with HZO presented with ocular involvement include blepharitis, keratoconjunctivitis, iritis, scleritis, and acute retinal necrosis [3]. In other words, orbital apex syndrome is characterized by dysfunction of ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve (V), oculomotor nerve (III), trochlear nerve (IV), abducens nerve (VI) as well as optic nerve (II) [4]. Apart from aspergillosis and mucormycosis as common infectious causes for orbital apex syndrome, herpes zoster ophthalmicus also contribute to orbital apex syndrome; however, its occurrence is unusual. The aim of the study was to report a case of orbital apex syndrome as a complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus in a young human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive man.

Case report

A newly HIV-diagnosed 20-year-old man presented with vesicular skin rashes over right periorbital region and forehead, associated with right eye redness for the past 1 week. He was seen in a clinic and treated as outpatient herpes zoster ophthalmicus case with keratouveitis and was prescribed with oral and topical acyclovir. He revisited the clinic again 3 days later, with a new onset of right eye ptosis and severe generalized blurring of vision, while his forehead vesicular rashes were drying up and turning into a scar. On examination, he suffered from right eye almost complete ptosis with scar formation over right periorbital and frontal area, corresponded to the distribution of first and second division of trigeminal nerve (Figure 1). Hutchinson sign was positive. The patient had a right proptosed eye, and a measurement performed on Hertel exophthalmometer at 115 intercanthal distance showed 19 mm for OD and 16 mm for OS. Extraocular muscles movement for all gaze of the right eye were restricted, causing so-called “frozen eye” (Figure 2). Relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) was negative for the right eye. His visual acuity parameters were 6/36 (OD) and 6/6 (OS). Right conjunctiva was injected, and the presence of keratic precipitate (KP) over right cornea endothelium was noted. Anterior chamber was deep with cells of 2 plus, and the patient’s pupils were unequal with pupillary size of 5 mm (OD) and 3 mm (OS) (Figure 1). Intraocular pressure was 12 mm Hg (OD) and 10 mm Hg (OS). Dilated fundus examination for the right eye revealed slight tortuous vessels, however optic disc had a well-defined margin. No evidence of vasculitis, retinitis, or choroiditis was observed. Examination of the patient’s left eye revealed typical anterior and posterior segments. Others optic nerve functions, including light brightness and red saturation were undamaged for both eyes. T1-weighted brain/orbit magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an enhancement on the rectus muscles of right eye, with optic nerve perineural enhancement (Figure 3). MRI of the brain indicated no evidence of cavernous sinus thrombosis.
A provisional diagnosis of right herpes zoster ophthalmicus with orbital apex syndrome was established and patient was started on treatment with intravenous acyclovir 500 mg, three times per day, for 5 days, followed by oral acyclovir for 3 months. He also started with topical (ointment) acyclovir 5 times per day for his dermatome lesion. Systemic corticosteroid, oral prednisolone 0.5 mg per kg/daily started after 48 hours of intravenous acyclovir initiation and it was tapered. Additionally, eye drops with dexamethasone was applied for the patient’s keratouveitis every 2 hours. Apart for his eye problem, he was also co-managed by infectious disease team for his retroviral issue to initiate a combination of antiretroviral therapy. Upon discharge, the patient’s right eye ptosis as well as extraocular muscles movement improved. He regained his vision back to 6/24. Anterior segment was quiet and posterior segment remained typical. He was discharged with oral acyclovir 800 mg, five times per day.

Discussion

HZO refer to neurocutaneous disease caused by herpes zoster infection with ophthalmic division of trigeminal nerve involvement. It accounts for 10 to 20% of herpes zoster infections [4]. Concomitant involvement of dermatome supply by maxillary nerve in HZO is also possible (5.4%) [5]. 65.6% of patients with HZO present ocular manifestations with conjunctivitis as the most common presentation, followed by anterior uveitis and keratitis, whereas optic neuritis, cranial nerve palsy, and acute retinal necrosis cases are rarely reported [5]. The presence of Hutchinson sign is significantly associated with ocular involvement [5]. Ocular involvement can be acute, recurrent, or chronic. Mild to moderate visual loss are reported in 10% of patient with HZO caused by keratitis [5]. Furthermore, more than half of patients who are untreated for dermatomal HZ develop ocular complications, such as chronic debilitating, visual impairment, or eventually irreversible blindness [7]. Schaftenaar et al. in their study on ocular HZO complications in rural parts of South Africa revealed that these ocular complications are more common among HIV-infected individuals, and clinical presentation is more severe as compared to non-HIV individuals [7].
Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is defined as variable degree of involvement of oculomotor, trochlear, abducens, ophthalmic division of trigeminal cranial and optic nerves. It is a rare and devastating ocular complication of HZO, as it might cause permanent reduced vision because of inflammation and compression of optic nerve. Temnogord et al. reported a case of orbital apex syndrome in a 47-year-old HIV-positive patient, with CD4 count of 400, who initially completed treatment for HZO at 1 month prior to presentation [8]. Also, other reviewed studies reported cases on middle age to elderly patients with various background history for risk factors, who presented with ophthalmoplegia with reduced vision after episodes of dermatomal vesicular rashes [8-14].
Early diagnosis of HZO and fast initiation of therapy will reduce the duration of symptoms and prevent ocular complications. Ideally, the initiation of systemic antiviral therapy should take place within 72 hours from the onset of symptoms, in order to reduce late stage ocular complications [7, 8]. Standard treatment for HZO include valacyclovir 1,000 mg three times per day, famciclovir 500 mg three times per day, or acyclovir 800 mg 5 times per day for 1 week, which need to be started within 72 hours from the onset of rashes [1]. This recommended therapy reduces the risk of ocular involvement from 50% to 30% at 6 months, and such an antiviral regime can benefit the patients with increased risk of complications, i.e. in older and immunocompromised cases [1]. Apart from a systemic treatment, topical ganciclovir is also considered in patients with dendriform keratitis. In HZO complicated by OAS, current standard empirical treatment involves systemic acyclovir and steroids. Few studies reported that intravenous acyclovir can be more beneficial than oral acyclovir in optic nerve involvement [4, 5, 8]. The usage of oral acyclovir in immunocompromised patients might carry a risk of insufficient efficacy. How­ever, whenever the intravenous acyclovir is not available, oral therapy should be implemented as soon as possible, rather than waiting until intravenous administration will be possible [15]. In the present study, despite starting oral acyclovir for our patient, the disease was still progressing, and OAS has developed. The patient’s immunocompromised status should be considered earlier, where prompt imaging of orbit and brain could help in early diagnosis of OAS. In addition, earlier commencement of intravenous acyclovir might have served a better option of treatment for our patient, considering his retroviral status.

Conclusions

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is a common disease, but orbital apex syndrome as a complication is unusual. Early identification and diagnosis of herpes zoster with systemic antiviral therapy helps to reduce the incidence of complication as well as irreversible ocular difficulties.

Ethical issue

Informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and all related images.
1. Cohen EJ. Management and prevention of herpes zoster ocular disease. Cornea 2015; 34: S3-S8.
2. Kawai K, Gebremeskel BG, Acosta CJ. Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: towards a global perspective. BMJ Open 2014; 4: e004833.
3. Lee CY, Tsai HC, Lee SSJ, Chen YS. Orbital apex syndrome: an unusual complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. BMC
4. Infect Dis 2015; 15: 33.
5. Lim JJ, Ong YM, Wan Zalina MZ, Choo MM. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus with orbital apex syndrome – difference in outcomes and literature review. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 2018; 26: 187-193.
6. Szeto SK, Chan TC, Wong RL, Ng AL, Li EY, Jhanji V. Prevalence of ocular manifestations and visual outcomes in patients with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Cornea 2017; 36: 338-342.
7. Lo DM, Jeng BH, Gillespie C, Wu M, Cohen EJ. Current practice patterns and opinions on the management of recent-onset or chronic herpes zoster ophthalmicus of Zoster Eye Disease Study investigators. Cornea 2019; 38: 13-17.
8. Schaftenaar E, Meenken C, Baarsma GS, McIntyre JA, Verjans GM, Peters RP. Early‐ and late‐stage ocular complications of herpes zoster ophthalmicus in rural South Africa. Trop Med Int Health 2016; 21: 334-339.
9. Bak E, Kim N, Khwarg SI, Choung HK. Case series: herpes zoster ophthalmicus with acute orbital inflammation. Optometry and Vision Science 2018; 95: 405-410.
10. Temnogorod J, Pointdujour-Lim R, Mancini R, Chang SH, Allen RC, Shinder R. Acute orbital syndrome in herpes zoster ophthalmicus: clinical features of 7 cases. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg 2017; 33: 173-177.
11. Jun LH, Gupta A, Milea D, Jaufeerally FR. More than meets the eye: Varicella zoster virus-related orbital apex syndrome. Indian J Ophthalmol 2018; 66: 1647.
12. Verhaeghe F, Villain M, Labauge P, Daien V. Orbital apex syndrome secondary to herpes zoster ophthalmicus. J Neuroophthalmol 2016; 36: 147-151.
13. Tehrani MJ, Eshraghi B, Zamzam A, Latifi G, Yadegari S. Superior orbital fissure and orbital apex syndrome as rare complications of herpes zoster. Acta Neurol Belg 2017; 117: 943-946.
14. Chandrasekharan A, Gandhi U, Badakere A, Sangwan V. Orbital apex syndrome as a complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. BMJ Case Rep 2017; 2017: bcr2016217382.
15. Othman K, Evelyn-Tai LM, Raja-Azmi MN, et al. Concurrent hyphema and orbital apex syndrome following herpes zoster ophthalmicus in a middle aged lady. Int J Surg Case Rep 2017; 30: 197-200.
16. Szenborn L, Kraszewska-Głomba B, Jackowska T, et al. Polish consensus guidelines on the use of acyclovir in the treatment and prevention of VZV and HSV infections. Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2016; 22: 65-71.
Copyright: © 2020 Polish AIDS Society. This is an Open Access journal, all articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
Quick links
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.