Atypical presentation of acute retinal necrosis mimicking Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease leading to misdiagnosis: a case report

Wei Zhu; Cuiyun Yu; Qianqian Guo; Qingran Kang; Xusheng Cao

doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1468801

Frontiers in Medicine (Nov 2024)

Atypical presentation of acute retinal necrosis mimicking Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease leading to misdiagnosis: a case report

Wei Zhu,
Cuiyun Yu,
Qianqian Guo,
Qingran Kang,
Xusheng Cao

Affiliations

Wei Zhu: Department of Ophthalmology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
Cuiyun Yu: Department of Outpatient, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
Qianqian Guo: Department of Ophthalmology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China
Qingran Kang: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
Xusheng Cao: Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1468801
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a serious, sight-threatening condition characterized by rapidly progressive necrotizing retinitis, most commonly caused by varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus. We report an atypical case of ARN in a 57-year-old immunocompetent male, initially misdiagnosed as Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. This case highlights the challenges in the early differential diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious uveitis. Misdiagnosis can lead to a delay in initiating antiviral therapy, potentially accelerating disease progression and worsening visual outcomes.

Published in Frontiers in Medicine

ISSN: 2296-858X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine

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