Inflammatory pigment epithelial detachment associated with Blastocystis hominis

Abstract

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.