Infectious ocular complications in orthotopic liver transplant patients

We report the frequency and type of infectious ocular complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and review diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. During the period September 1988 through November 1994, 684 patients underwent OLT at Mount Sinai Hospital (New York). Nine orthotopic liver transplant patients (1.3%) developed ocular infections: Candida albicans endophthalmitis (2), Aspergillus fumigatus endophthalmitis (1), cytomegalovirus retinitis (4), herpes simplex virus keratitis (1), and varicella-zoster virus panophthalmitis (1). The mean time from OLT to ocular symptoms was 42 days for patients with fungal infections and 128 days for patients with viral infections. Blunted vision was the commonest symptom (five of nine cases). The mean duration of follow-up was 2 years (range, 33 days to 5 years). Permanent loss of vision occurred in three patients, five had improvement in visual acuity, and one died of disseminated aspergillosis 33 days after OLT. Infectious ocular complications following OLT may occur as isolated events or with disseminated disease. Fungal infections occur earlier (mean, 42 days after OLT) than viral infections (mean, 4 months after OLT). The clinical presentation may be atypical; aggressive vitreoretinal procedures and serial examinations may be required to establish the diagnosis. Cytomegalovirus retinitis in orthotopic liver transplant patients may not require life-long maintenance therapy with antiviral agents.