Recurrent Neuroretinitis: A Unique Presentation of Behçet’s Disease in a Child

Abstract

We describe a case of Behçet’s disease (BD) in a young child that presented with recurrent neuroretinitis and developed retinal lesions during follow-up. A 4.5-year-old girl presented with fever of 39.5°C, erythema nodosum in her legs, bilateral knee arthritis, and perineum aphthae. On ocular examination, visual acuity was 20/25 in both eyes. Right eye examination was normal and the left eye (LE) showed mild anterior and intermediate uveitis, normal optic disc, and a macular star appearance. Laboratory workup demonstrated elevated C-reactive protein levels, a normal abdominal ultrasound, and a normal colonoscopy. The patient was diagnosed with BD. One month post initial presentation, the patient presented with visual acuity of finger counting in the LE with significant anterior uveitis, mild intermediate uveitis, and recurrent neuroretinitis. Under treatment of IV methylprednisolone, oral betamethasone, infliximab, and colchicine, a complete systemic remission was noticed, and uveitis became quiescent. On last examination, 4.5 years post first presentation, visual acuity was 20/25 in both eyes and the LE demonstrated a remnant of a juxtafoveal retinal scar. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of neuroretinitis presenting as a manifestation of pediatric BD. Ophthalmologists should be aware of these unique manifestations of ocular BD.

Keywords

• behçet’s disease
• neuroretinitis
• uveitis
• vitritis
• retinal lesions