Cat Scratch fever Or?

[Memawof5]

I am becoming more and more frustrated by the day. I have been followed by my eye doctor for the last 3 months because of a problem i developed in my left eye. I guess what I have is called uvelitis?(sp) I get a cloudy vision field and have alot of floaters. My eye doc did a million tests to rule out many things including vasculitis or circulation problems. he then began testing for lupus, RA, and lymes. Two of the test came back with positive results. The gene for AS and the cat scratch fever titer. Now at this point let me explain that I have 2 seperate blood disorders. PV and Hemochromatosis. I take Hydrea and have frequent Phlebotimies(sp). I also just found out that I have the JAC2 gene mutation. Now I am having more symptoms and can not get my 3 doctors to coordinate and give me some answers. I just get the pat answer that "this has nothing to do with your eye problem" or "this has nothing to do with your blood disorders" I am going crazy as i feel that it is all related somehow and maybe you can give me the right questions to ask to get some answers. I just finished a course of antibiotics and steriods and my eye cleared, but now it is getting cloudy again.    

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I'm sorry that I can't be more help.  Your doctors have so much information about you than I do - so I am at a severe disadvantage.  I have one patient with Polycythemia Vera who always gets a red, inflamed eye (uveitis) - and we have speculated that there is some problem with blood getting either to or from the eye which is causing delayed circulation and mild ischemia.  She shows some response to anti-inflammatory drops but just gets worse at times for no apparent reason - which I suspect could be when her blood viscosity gets thicker?  My advise is to keep pressing your doctor to look for more ideas.  Perhaps you can stimulate him/her to do even more research into your case.  Be nice, but persistant.  The squeaky wheel gets the oil sometimes.  I wish I could offer more - but I would have to know all your details and all your lab results and finding - but I'm not your doctor.  Personally, I suspect the problems are related in some way.

MJK MD

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Also, I noticed you have Ankylosing spondylitis marker - and that is a VERY common cause of uveitis as well.  There's no specific treatment for cure for that.  The cat scratch titer is curious.  I have seen patients with very inflamed eyes due to cat scratch disease.  If you were indeed bitten or scratched by a juvenile cat - then that could easily be a possibility.  The cases I saw did very well with the proper oral antibiotics.  Your case in very complex.  I wish you well.
MJK MD

[Memawof5]

Thanks for your reply. I think that my Eye Doc did think that maybe the problem was my blood viscosity so he did a test in the office where they put a orange contrast into a vein and then took alot of pictures through my eyes. He said that looked fine and he saw no vasculitis. My Hemoc, Eye Doc and my primary care Doc all say my case is very complex and maybe that is why we can not seem to fix the problem. I will take your advice and continue to press but with kindness. If they figure this all out i will let you know.I do have several feral cats that i care for and I have been scratched several time but never presented with the infected scratch mark. Again thanks for your reply