Bilateral optic neuritis with spine demyelination associated with influenza A H1N1 infection

Abstract

Purpose: To report a rare case of optic neuritis with spine demyelination following H1N1 virus infection. Observation: A 66-year-old female presented with decreased vision in both eyes (left > right) following a recent episode of fever and flu. She was diagnosed as H1N1 infection confirmed by viral antigen analysis of throat swab. On examination, she had a profound vision drop in the left eye with optic disc edema. MRI brain and orbit revealed bilateral optic nerve and frontal dural thickening with a ring-enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe. MRI spine showed long cord signals at T1-T7 suggestive of demyelination. The patient had a complete recovery of vision and visual fields after intravenous and oral steroids. Conclusion/Importance: Influenza A virus can manifest with a wide range of symptoms including flu-like illness to neurological complications. This case highlights optic neuritis as a presenting feature of H1N1 infection.

Keywords

• H1N1
• Optic neuritis
• Disc edema
• Demyelination
• MRI
• Steroids