Inflammatory pigment epithelial detachment associated with Blastocystis hominis
Ellen N. Yu-Keh, MD, Felipe I. Tolentino MD, Amadeo A.S. Veloso Jr., MD
Objective
To describe a case of inflammatory pigment epithelial detachment (PED) presumed to be secondary to the amoeba Blastocystis hominis.
Methods
This is an interventional case report.
Results
A 46-year-old male complained of visual distortion in the left eye for 7 months. Examination revealed the presence of a subretinal cystic lesion on the fovea. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated a PED with a
hyperreflective lesion over the detached retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Work-up included a fecalysis, which revealed the presence of Blastocystis hominis. The patient was treated with oral metronidazole. RPE detachment resolved after treatment with no recurrence in 30 months of follow-up.
Conclusion
Intestinal parasitic infection may be associated with retinal disease and should be included in the differential diagnosis of PED when OCT reveals a hyperreflective lesion.
Keywords: Pigment epithelial detachment, Blastocystis hominis, Parasitic infection,
Retinal pigment epithelium