Loading
Veterinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases / Bartonella Species Infections Research / Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics · Journal article
BMC Ophthalmology · August 8, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This retrospective case series describes the etiologic distribution and visual outcomes in 58 episodes of neuroretinitis across 34 patients from a single tertiary center over 12 years. Infectious agents (Bartonella, Toxoplasma, Borrelia, Brucella) accounted for the majority of cases, and treatment with antibiotics alone or combined with steroids yielded better final visual acuity than steroid monotherapy, but the findings are observational and lack statistical comparison.
Retrospective case series. Patients with a diagnosis of neuroretinitis (optic disc edema with macular exudates) evaluated at a tertiary eye center; inclusion period January 2010 to August 2022.. Intervention: Various treatment modalities: antibiotics (for infectious etiologies), oral corticosteroids, pulse corticosteroids, or corticosteroids alone.. n = 34. Single tertiary referral eye center; specific location not stated..
Initial visual acuity ranged from 3.0 to 0.1 logMAR (mean ± SD: 0.81 ± 0.64) and improved to final visual acuity 2.0 to 0 logMAR (mean ± SD: 0.27 ± 0.42). Infectious etiologies identified in 34 of 58 episodes (59%): Bartonella (n=9), Toxoplasma (n=9), Borrelia (n=3), Brucella (n=2); 10 cases idiopathic. Mean final visual acuities by treatment: antibiotics only 0.02 logMAR, antibiotics + oral steroids 0.06 logMAR, pulse steroids + antibiotics 0.08 logMAR, steroids only 0.44 logMAR.
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
The findings suggest that infectious causes are common in neuroretinitis and that combined antibiotic–steroid therapy or antibiotics alone may improve visual outcomes compared to steroid monotherapy. However, the observational nature and single-center design limit generalizability, and these patterns require validation in prospective comparative studies before treatment algorithms are changed.
Retrospective case series from a single tertiary center with modest sample size and no control group; descriptive etiologic and outcome data without comparative statistical analysis or hard clinical endpoints.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
The findings suggest that infectious causes are common in neuroretinitis and that combined antibiotic–steroid therapy or antibiotics alone may improve visual outcomes compared to steroid monotherapy. However, the observational nature and single-center design limit generalizability, and these patterns require validation in prospective comparative studies before treatment algorithms are changed.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Neuroretinitis (NR) is a distinct optic neuropathy characterized by optic disc edema and macular exudates. Whether visual prognosis differs among etiologic subgroups remains unclear. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the demographic characteristics, etiologic distribution, and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with NR. We retrospectively reviewed NR cases diagnosed between January 2010 and August 2022 at a tertiary referral center. Demographic data, etiologic work-up results, treatment modalities, and visual outcomes were analyzed. Fifty-eight episodes in 34 patients (mean age: 38.3 ± 12.3 years; F/M ratio: 1.25:1) were evaluated. Twenty-five patients had unilateral and nine had bilateral involvement; eight experienced recurrences. Initial visual acuity ranged from 3.0 to 0.1 logMAR (mean ± SD: 0.81 ± 0.64), and final visual acuity ranged from 2.0 to 0 logMAR (mean ± SD: 0.27 ± 0.42).Etiologies included Bartonella ( n = 9), Toxoplasma ( n = 9), Borrelia ( n = 3), Brucella ( n = 2), and Behçet’s disease ( n = 1); ten cases were idiopathic. Mean initial/final visual acuities were 0.45/0.02 logMAR (antibiotics only), 0.58/0.06 logMAR (antibiotics + oral steroids), 0.62/0.08 logMAR (pulse steroids + antibiotics), and 0.79/0.44 logMAR (steroids only), respectively. Infectious agents accounted for a high proportion of NR cases in our cohort, underscoring the need for comprehensive etiologic investigations. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, recurrences may occur. Steroid administration without concurrent antimicrobial treatment may adversely affect visual prognosis.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.