ADULT WITH CHICKENPOX COMPLICATED BY SYSTEMIC VASCULITIS AND BILATERAL RETINAL VASCULITIS WITH RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSIONS.

PURPOSE: To describe an adult with chickenpox resulting in systemic vasculitis and bilateral retinal vascular occlusions.

METHODS: Single case report.

RESULTS: A 58-year-old man with chickenpox complicated by disseminated varicella-zoster systemic and retinal vasculitis resulting in a combined arterial and venous occlusion in one eye with multiple branch retinal vein occlusions in the other eye. There was no evidence of retinitis. The patient systemically improved after treatment with acyclovir and steroids; however, his vision remained poor.

CONCLUSION: Chickenpox can be associated with systemic vasculopathy and may rarely result in multiple systemic and ocular infarcts, including severe retinal vascular occlusions.