POSTINFECTIOUS HEPATITIS-B OPTIC NEURITIS

A 41-year-old female nurse's aide presented with a recent history of v iral hepatitis B. Approximately 1 month after her liver functions had normalized she developed symptoms of optic neuritis with painful loss of vision and optic disc edema. Her laboratory studies revealed eviden ce of systemic vasculitis and glomerulonephritis. A discussion is pres ented of the patient's clinical course and a brief history of the syst emic effects of acute hepatitis B infection (HBV); the pathophysiology for HBV-induced autoimmune optic neuritis (ON), management guidelines , and differential diagnoses are discussed.