Purpose: To evaluate intraocular inflammation in Japanese patients with cat-scratch disease (CSD).
Study design: Retrospective clinical chart review.
Patients and methods: The cases of 15 consecutive patients (19 affected eyes) in Kochi Prefecture, Japan who were serologically positive for Bartonella henselae or Bartonella quintana infection in association with intraocular inflammation were reviewed. The clinical manifestations, ocular complications, and treatment modalities were recorded. The clinical charts and photographic records were also reviewed for evidence of optic disc lesions, macular star, foci of chorioretinitis, and other findings.
Results: Thirteen patients reported fever before or at the time of the initial presentation. Ten of 11 patients with decreased visual acuity manifested neuroretinitis, and the remaining patient showed retinochoroiditis with macular involvement. One patient with a visual field defect manifested branch retinal artery occlusion. Three patients without visual disturbance presented with fever of unknown cause. Discrete white retinal or retinochoroidal lesions were the most common findings (84% of eyes, 87% of patients), followed by retinal hemorrhage (63% of eyes, 80% of patients), optic disc lesions (63% of eyes, 73% of patients), serous retinal detachment (53% of eyes, 67% of patients), and macular star (47% of eyes, 60% of patients).
Conclusion: White retinal or retinochoroidal foci were the most common ocular posterior segment manifestations of CSD in this patient population. A diagnosis of CSD should be suspected in patients with fever and chorioretinal white spots, and the absence of neuroretinitis or macular star does not exclude the possibility of intraocular inflammation in CSD.
Keywords: Bartonella henselae; Bartonella quintana; Cat-scratch disease; Neuroretinitis; Retinochoroiditis.