Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39218852›Full record

ArticleBMC ophthalmology2024

Sea-fan retinal neovascularization associated with rickettsial retinitis: a case report.

Nesrine Abroug, Imen Ksiaa, Safa Ben Aoun, Wijdene Nabi, Mootez Mourali, Bechir Jelliti, Moncef Khairallah

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies in ophthalmology.Medical hypothesis, discovery & innovation ophthalmology journal · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nesrine AbrougDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.
Imen KsiaaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia. khay.imen@yahoo.fr.
Safa Ben AounDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.
Wijdene NabiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.
Mootez MouraliDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.
Bechir JellitiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.
Moncef KhairallahDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 1st June Street, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRickettsial disease has been commonly associated with retinitis, retinal vasculitis, and optic nerve involvement, but the development of retinal neovascularization has been very rarely reported. We herein describe a case of rickettsial retinitis complicated with the development of sea-fan retinal neovascularization documented with multimodal imaging, including fundus photography, SS-OCT, fluorescein angiography, and SS-OCT angiography. CASE PRESENTATION: A 26-year-old female with a history of fever one week earlier presented with sudden decreased vision in the left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/2000 and the patient was diagnosed with rickettsial retinitis along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade associated with serous retinal detachment and retinal hard exudates. The indirect immunofluorescence test was positive for Rickettsia conorii, and the patient was treated with oral doxycycline (200 mg/day) and oral prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day, with gradual tapering). Four weeks after presentation, the retinal infiltrate and associated serous retinal detachment had resolved, but retinal hard exudates had increased. A large sea-fan preretinal fibrovascular neovascularization became apparent along the superotemporal retinal vascular arcade, but there was no associated retinal ischemia on fluorescein angiography. The patient received an adjunctive single intravitreal injection of 1.25 bevacizumab. Sequential follow-up examinations showed shrinking of sea-fan retinal neovascularization, a complete resolution of retinal hard exudates, and the development of a self-limited vitreous hemorrhage. On last follow-up, 30 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, BCVA was 20/25.

conclusionPatients with rickettsial retinitis may develop a sea-fan retinal neovascularization, with subsequent vitreous hemorrhage, putatively through inflammatory mechanisms. Multimodal imaging including OCT, fluorescein angiography, and OCT-angiography, is highly useful for accurate diagnosis and reliable monitoring of the evolution of retinitis, retinal neovascularization, and other retinal changes. The use of a combination therapy with oral doxycycline and corticosteroids and intravitreal anti-VEGF can improve outcomes.

Indexed as

Fluorescein AngiographyRetinal NeovascularizationRetinitisAdultAngiogenesis InhibitorsBevacizumabDoxycyclineEye Infections, BacterialFemaleFundus OculiHumansIntravitreal InjectionsRickettsia conoriiRickettsia InfectionsTomography, Optical CoherenceVisual AcuityAngiogenesis InhibitorsBevacizumabDoxycyclineOptical coherence tomographyOptical coherence tomography angiographyRetinitisRickettsiosisSea-fan retinal neovascularizationVascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID39218852
PMCPMC11367940

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.