Histological examination of an eye with endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis treated with oral voriconazole: a case report

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology Vol. 242; no. 10; pp. 887 - 891
• Main Authors: Aliyeva, Shakhsanam E, Ullmann, Andrew J, Kottler, Ulrike B, Frising, Martine, Schwenn, Oliver
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; Aspergillosis - drug therapy; Aspergillosis - microbiology; Aspergillosis - pathology; Endophthalmitis - drug therapy; Endophthalmitis - microbiology; Endophthalmitis - pathology; Eye Enucleation; Eye Infections, Fungal - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Fungal - microbiology; Eye Infections, Fungal - pathology; Fungemia - drug therapy; Fungemia - microbiology; Fungemia - pathology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrimidines - therapeutic use; Triazoles - therapeutic use; Voriconazole
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00417-004-0901-3

To report the histological findings of an eye with severe Aspergillus endophthalmitis after oral treatment with voriconazole. METHODS. Case report. Histopathological examination revealed no fungal elements in choroidal or retinal vessels. The hyphae were mainly restricted to the vitreal side of the preretinal inflammatory infiltrate. Since the treatment with voriconazole had not been completed at the time of enucleation, the clinical course with potential further limitation or regression of the lesion remains unsettled. Endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis is a devastating condition often associated with immunodeficiency. The pathogenesis of this entity implies the primary invasion of choroidal and retinal vessels. The lack of antifungal drugs with high blood-ocular permeability results in an extremely poor visual prognosis. Our histological examination indicates promising activity and ocular penetration of the new antifungal agent voriconazole.