Retinal vasculitis occurring with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report severe retinal vasculitis causing decreased vision in three patients with the common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.

METHOD: Case report. Three patients with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome developed decreased vision secondary to retinal vasculitis. Fluorescein angiography was performed in all three patients. Peribulbar injections were given in one patient, and two patients were treated with oral steroids and cyclosporin.

RESULTS

All three patients were young and had classic common variable immunodeficiency syndrome. Bilateral retinal vasculitis and diffuse retinal edema were present in all three patients, and two patients had retinal neovascularization in the absence of ischemia. No evidence of intraocular infection was present, and none was detected systematically. Visual acuity decreased in five of the six eyes and was responsive to treatment in only one patient (both eyes).

CONCLUSION

Retinal vasculitis may be another autoimmune manifestation of common variable immunodeficiency syndrome.