Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Clinical characteristics of recurrent non-arteritic retinal artery occlusion

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the recurrent non-arteritic retinal artery occlusion (RAO) in the same or opposite eye.

METHODS

We searched the RAO registry at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and included patients with recurrent RAO in the present study. Ophthalmic and systemic features were analysed to identify risk factors and visual outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 850 patients in the non-arteritic RAO cohort, 11 (1.3%) experienced a second RAO recurrence, either in the same (5 patients; 0.6%) or opposite (6 patients; 0.7%) eye. The same eye group experienced an earlier recurrence (1-2 months, median 1 month) than the opposite eye group, where the time to recurrence was notably longer (8-66 months, median 22 months). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in the same eye group decreased after the recurrence of RAO. In the same eye group, initial BCVA ranged from 20/200 to counting fingers (CF), while BCVA during RAO recurrence ranged from CF to hand motion. When RAO recurred in the opposite eye, the reduction in visual acuity was less severe than the reduction of the initial episode: initial episode ranged from 20/400 to light perception and recurrent episode ranged from 20/25 to 20/400. Patients exhibited varying degrees of carotid (81.8%) and cerebral (9.1%) artery occlusions. Additionally, one patient in each group (total 2 patients, 18.2%) experienced a stroke 6 months after RAO recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the RAO recurrences could lead to devastating visual impairment, it is essential to emphasise the importance of risk factor screening to patients while collaborating with neurologists and cardiologists.

Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion as a presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-based review

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an ophthalmic emergency that typically results in permanent vision damage even despite vigorous treatment. In this article, we describe a case of acute vaso-occlusive retinopathy that presented as the primary manifestation of SLE in the absence of elevated levels of APLAs. After treatment with intravenous steroids, immunoglobulin, intrathecal injection of dexamethasone, plasma exchange, and intravenous cyclophosphamide, SLE was well controlled in the patient, but her vision was permanently lost in the left eye. We also go over a brief review of the currently available literature on retinal vaso-occlusive disease present in SLE. The pathology mechanism of CRAO is related to immune complex-mediated "vasculitis", which is typically associated with neuropsychiatric lupus. However, the literature review identified antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) in only 6 of 19 patients, indicating that other mechanisms besides APS are associated with CRAO. Systemic immunosuppression and anticoagulants are required for the treatment of this severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy. Early recognition and aggressive intervention may prevent severe loss of vision.

Unilateral CRAO as the presenting clinical sign of systemic lupus erythematosus

Purpose

This report describes the case of unilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) as a patient's presenting clinical sign of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Observations

Though the patient knew of her SLE diagnosis through incidental abnormal lab work, she never pursued treatment because she never exhibited signs of the disease. Despite her asymptomatic course, she presented with a sudden and severe thrombotic event that left her with no light perception in her affected eye. Laboratory work-up was consistent with SLE and anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS).

Conclusions and importance

This case draws attention to the possibility of CRAO as a presenting sign of SLE, rather than a sequela of active disease. Awareness of this risk may play a factor in future discussions between patients and their rheumatologists when considering initiation of treatment at the time of diagnosis.

Ocular Manifestations Related to Antibodies Positivity and Inflammatory Biomarkers in a Rheumatological Cohort

Purpose

Ocular involvement is frequent in autoimmune diseases and even can be the first manifestation. There are multiple descriptions in the literature around the world regarding this topic. However, we evidenced a lack of studies analyzing the relationship between the ocular manifestations and systemic biomarkers, especially in Latinamerica. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between the positivity of inflammatory biomarkers and the ocular manifestations in a Colombian cohort of rheumatological patients.

Patients and Methods

We conducted an observational, descriptive, non-comparative cross-sectional study in a rheumatology center, in Bogotá, Colombia, from 2013 to 2019. We calculated a sample size of 797 patients to assess the prevalence of ocular manifestations and inflammatory biomarkers. We performed univariate analyses for categorical and continuous variables and bivariate analyses using the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables.

Results

Women represented 84% of the population, and the mean age was 54.61± 15.64 years. Of 797 patients, 21.45% reported one or more ophthalmological diagnoses, being keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) the most common (15.93%), followed by uveitis, and cataract (1.38%, each one). Regarding ophthalmological symptoms, 35% presented at least one, being dry eye sensation (DE) the most common (30.86%), followed by ocular pain (2.76%), red eye, and decreased visual acuity (2.63%, each one). The antibodies or inflammatory biomarkers most frequently found were antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) (35.3%), C-reactive protein (28.7%), and rheumatoid factor (27.9%). We found statistical associations between consumption of complement 3, anti-CCP, anti-RO, and anti-LA antibodies with ocular manifestations such as photophobia, DE, conjunctivitis, KCS, uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and maculopathy.

Conclusion

Ocular manifestations are frequently found in patients with positive antibodies and inflammatory biomarkers. Our results suggest antibodies and inflammatory molecules could be biomarkers for ocular manifestations in patients with rheumatological diseases. This study provides the basis for future longitudinal studies.

Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion: An exceptional complication after frontal parasagittal meningioma resection

Background:

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare acute disease associated with great morbidity. It is reported as a complication of surgical procedures, but rarely associated with brain surgery and no reports before due to parasagittal meningioma resection.

Case Description:

We present the case of a 41-year-old female who underwent surgery for a parasagittal meningioma and developed a bilateral CRAO as an acute postoperative complication. Most common causes, such as cardiac embolism, carotid pathology and coagulation problems, were discussed and all clinical and neuroradiological exams performed were reported.

Conclusion:

Bilateral CRAO as results of brain surgery is extremely rare; however, if it occurs, it should be early recognized and treated to minimize its high morbidity.

Severe Vaso-Occlusive Retinopathy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Series

This study aims to describe the clinical profile of severe vaso-occlusive retinal disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and it is a retrospective case series. The clinical characteristics of three patients with SLE with vascular occlusions in four eyes were described. Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) was present in all three patients with combined non-ischemic central retinal vein occlusion (NICRVO) in one patient and evolving ischemic CRVO in another patient. Additional branch retinal artery insufficiency was observed in the other eye of a patient with BRAO. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer was elevated in all patients. One patient had a positive lupus anticoagulant with elevated activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and concurrent homocysteinemia was present in another patient. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (ranibizumab) injection was administered to two eyes. Intravenous methyl prednisolone (IVMP) injection along with oral azathioprine was used in all patients with the need for anticoagulation in two patients along with SLE treatment. Vision in two eyes did not improve to the functional level despite aggressive therapy. Visually blinding severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy in the form of BRAO with or without CRVO can manifest in patients with SLE. Undetected antiphospholipid syndrome and homocysteinemia may be associated risk factors for such ophthalmic complications.

Bilateral central retinal artery occlusion - A catastrophic presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder. Here, we present a rare case of a middle-aged male, diagnosed with SLE, manifesting as bilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Severe ocular complications such as CRAO may occur during an acute flare or even early in the disease process. It is important to recognize this potentially devastating complication.

Bilateral simultaneous Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) in a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

PURPOSE

The objective of the study is to report a rare case of severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy with bilateral simultaneous Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO) in a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

OBSERVATIONS

A female patient aged 22 years, presented with a sudden onset of painless diminution of vision in both eyes for three weeks. She had systemic features of SLE for six months at the time of the study. A diagnosis of bilateral CRAO was made after an examination of the fundus and by ruling out other causes of severe vaso-occlusion based on clinical and angiogram findings. Her antiphospholipid antibody (APLA) levels were normal. The visual prognosis was poor even after treatment with intravenous steroids and panretinal photocoagulation.

CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE

This case highlights the importance of bilateral CRAO as an initial presentation of severe systemic disease. This case demonstrates that despite apparent normal APLA levels, a state of hypercoagulability can exist in SLE patients. In addition, it demonstrates that severe vaso-occlusive complications such as CRAO, which results in blindness, can also develop in a patient with apparently well-controlled SLE. Therefore, it is important to take cognizance of this sight-threatening complication in SLE patients at initial presentation. A holistic approach to management, both systemic and ocular, is required to prevent sight-threatening complications from vaso-occlusion. Early and aggressive intervention can be beneficial in the prevention of severe visual loss.

Correlation of the history of stroke and the retinal artery occlusion: a nested case-control study

AIM

To analyze the systemic factors including stroke history related to the retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

METHODS

Patients with an exact diagnosis of RAO in the medical database of the Kailuan Corporation were identified as the case group. Five patients without RAO were added for each case from the Kailuan Study and matched for sex and age (age±2) as the control group. The Kailuan Study is a general population-based cohort study in northern China, in which a total of 101 510 individuals (81 110 men) aged 18-98y were recruited to participate in the study. And the participants were bi-annually re-examined. The database of both groups was from Kailuan study of 2010 cohort. All the information, including the demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, medical comorbidities, medical history, family medical history, drug usage, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurement, blood sample laboratory assessment, urine tests, and other physical examinations were all collected. A retrospective nested case-control method was used for this study. Conditional multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors with SPSS 13.0 software and SAS 9.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of 45 patients were included as the case group, and the control group included 225 patients. In the case group, 28 patients (62.2%) had a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), and 17 patients (37.8%) had a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). A total of 18 patients (40.0%) had a stroke before the RAO (mean 4.04±3.88y before the RAO), and 31 patients (81.6%) had infarctions or malacia identified by the cranial computed tomography (CT) scans. The basal ganglia and centrum semiovale were the most frequently involved regions. Plaques in the common carotid artery were present in 32 patients (88.9%). Conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the RAO was found to be associated with the history of stroke (P=0.0023, OR=28.794; 95%CI: 3.322-249.586).

CONCLUSION

A history of stroke can significantly increase the incidence of RAO. Exists of plaque in the carotid artery is mean more than its severe stenosis for RAO.

Idiopathic bilateral central artery occlusion in a young woman

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is uncommon among children and young adults. Bilateral CRAO before the age of 18 years are extremely rare. We present a case of an idiopathic bilateral CRAO in a young healthy female.