Detection of branch retinal artery occlusions in Susac’s syndrome

BMC Research Notes

Michael A Burdon²  Alastair K Denniston¹  Mark Lane²  Saiju Jacob²  Stavroula Boukouvala² 

[1]Centre for Translational Inflammation Research, Division of Immunity and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK

[2]University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2WB, UK

关键词: Fluorescein angiography;    Retinopathy;    Susac’s syndrome (SS);   

Others  :  1134737
DOI  :  10.1186/1756-0500-7-56

 received in 2013-08-06, accepted in 2014-01-15,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

We report an interesting case of asymptomatic retinal involvement in an encephalopathic patient enabling early identification of Susac’s syndrome.

Case presentation

A 39-year-old Caucasian lady with hearing loss and encephalopathy was referred for ophthalmic assessment, including screening for branch retinal artery occlusions characteristic of Susac’s syndrome. Clinical features included severe headaches, right-sided hypoacusis, dysphasia and poor memory. Routine blood tests were normal. MRI brain showed numerous hyperintense lesions mainly in corpus callosum. Although she was visually asymptomatic, dilated funduscopy detected bilateral multiple peripheral branch retinal artery occlusions which were confirmed on fluorescein angiography. She was subsequently started on intravenous steroids and pulsed cyclophosphamide which improved her symptoms within 48 hours. Full recovery was made with no new arterial occlusions on four months follow-up.

Conclusion

The case further establishes the crucial role of a detailed ophthalmic examination supported by fluorescein angiography in the assessment of these patients, who are at risk of being misdiagnosed and undertreated.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Boukouvala et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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