STEROID-RESPONSIVE HIV OPTIC NEUROPATHY

A 37-year-old man with bilateral optic neuropathy who recovered on ste roid treatment is described. He was subsequently found to be human imm unodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) positive prior to the onset of his visua l symptoms, and no other cause of his optic neuropathy could be found. There is some evidence that HIV itself may be a cause of symptomatic optic neuropathy. A spontaneously relapsing and remitting multiple scl erosis-like syndrome has previously been described in HIV-positive pat ients, and this may present with optic neuritis. A chronic optic neuri tis in HIV-positive patients that is not usually symptomatically impor tant has also been described. We review the literature related to thes e topics and our patient.