J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2003 Jan;44(1):215-219.

A case of orbital Polyarteritis Nodosa Complicated with Retinal Vasculitis and Exophthalmos

• Kim HG
• Lee SH
• Kim IT

Abstract

PURPOSE
Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis affecting medium and small sized arteries throughout the vascular system, including ocular tissues. We report a case of orbital polyarteritis nodosa complicated with retinal vasculitis and exophthalmos. METHODS: A 51-year-old woman complained of swelling and hard mass in periorbital region for 3 months. The left eye was anophthalmos after enucleation secondary to corneal infection. The patient has treated marginal ulcer of the cornea and keratomalacia. Posterior synechia and motility disturbance of lateral rectus muscle were also revealed. Fundus examination showed focal retinal hemorrhage, macular hard exudate, and soft exudate, which may mean retinal vasculitis. Both eyes gradually developed exophthalmos. Orbital CT scan revealed homogenous infiltration in the orbit, ethmoid bone, and nasal cavity and perforation of the nasal septum. The pathologic examination for the biopsy specimen from the orbital tissue demonstrated a nongranulomatous vasculitis, diagnosing the polyarteritis nodosa. RESULTS: The authors present ocular manifestations, including marginal corneal ulcer, keratomalacia, dysfunction of the extraocular muscles, posterior synechia, retinal hemorrhage, soft exudate, hard exdate in the macula, and exophthalmos, in this patient with the polyarteritis nodosa.

Keyword

Exophthalmos; Polyarteritis nodosa; Retinal vasculitis

MeSH Terms

Anophthalmos
Arteries
Biopsy
Cornea
Corneal Ulcer
Ethmoid Bone
Exophthalmos*
Exudates and Transudates
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Muscles
Nasal Cavity
Nasal Septum
Orbit*
Peptic Ulcer
Polyarteritis Nodosa*
Retinal Hemorrhage
Retinal Vasculitis*
Retinaldehyde*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vasculitis
Retinaldehyde