Bilateral lateral geniculitis associated with severe diarrhea.

PURPOSE: We examined a 28-year-old woman who developed incongruous binasal and bitemporal visual field defects one week after having a febrile gastroenteritis characterized by severe diarrhea while traveling in Mexico.

METHODS

The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate, 1 g daily for three days, followed by an eight-week course of oral prednisone.

RESULTS

Neuroradiologic examination demonstrated bilaterally increased signal intensity within the lateral geniculate bodies. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis disclosed isolated protein increase.

CONCLUSION

Severe diarrhea may be associated with an aseptic bilateral lateral geniculitis resulting in hourglass-shaped visual fields. Corticosteroid therapy may provide mild improvement.