Clinical features of 121 patients with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis.

PURPOSE: To describe the determinant clinical signs to diagnose diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) and the main features related to identification of the live worm.

DESIGN: Retrospective study performed at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, between 2003 and 2008.

METHODS: Patients with early- or late-stage diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis were included. All patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination and had a minimum of 6 months of follow-up.

RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were included. Most patients were younger than 20 years (69.42%). Visual acuity was 20/400 or worse in 86 patients (71.7%). Nine patients (7.43%) presented in the early stage and 112 (92.57%) patients presented in the late stage. Subretinal tracks (91.7%), focal alterations of the retinal pigment epithelium (89.3%), small white spots (80.2%), and optic nerve atrophy (76.9%) were the most frequent clinical features. The subretinal worm was identified in 48 patients (39.66%), and laser treatment to destroy it was performed in all cases. The most common location of the nematode was the posterior pole (21 patients). It was observed that the younger the age, the higher the indices of larvae identification (P=.022). Multifocal yellow-white lesions and vitritis were correlated with identification of the worm (P=.001). Mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity was 1.466 (20/600) and 1.281 (20/400) before and after laser treatment, respectively (P<.005).

CONCLUSIONS: Identification of clinical signs and diagnosis of diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis in its early stage, followed by prompt location and destruction of the worm by photocoagulation, may improve the vision of affected patients.