Bilateral Prefoveal Sub-Internal Limiting Membrane Hemorrhage in Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Purtscher-like retinopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: clinical features, risk factors and prognosis

BACKGROUND

Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR) is a rare ocular manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with poor prognosis, but its clear risk factors and treatment consensus are still lacking.

AIM

To investigate the clinical features, risk factors and prognosis of PLR in SLE patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on SLE patients with PLR admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013 to 2022. Clinical data, including demographic characteristics, lupus-related features, laboratory findings and ophthalmologic examinations, were collected and analyzed. The prognosis was evaluated based on best-corrected visual acuity and ophthalmologic outcomes.

RESULTS

Seventeen SLE patients (32 eyes) diagnosed with PLR were included, along with a random selection of 100 SLE patients without retinopathy and 100 with retinal microvasculopathy as controls. Patients with PLR had a significantly younger age, a higher proportion of hemolytic anemia, a shorter duration of SLE, a higher SLE disease activity index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values and lower hemoglobin (HGB) values than the group without retinopathy (P < 0.05). They also had a significantly higher SLEDAI-2K score, higher ESR values and higher white blood cell values (P < 0.05) than the Microvasculopathy group. The majority of eyes (22/26, 84.62%) achieved stabilization at the last follow-up, with different therapeutic strategies, while a few (4/26, 15.38%) experienced complications or progression.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest reported case series of PLR in SLE, which was associated with higher disease activity and poor visual prognosis. It was also associated with younger age, shorter SLE duration, concomitant hemolytic anemia, lower HGB and higher ESR value. Early recognition and prompt treatment are crucial for improving visual outcomes.

Ocular Phenotypes in Patients With Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Retrospective Analysis in a Single Center Over 7 Years

PURPOSE

To investigate the presence and type of ocular abnormalities in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Observational report of ocular findings and their associations with age, sex, underlying disease, and hematologic parameters. HLH was defined according to the 2004 criteria, and the patients were enrolled from March 2013 to December 2021. Analysis began in July 2022 and ended in January 2023. The main outcome measures were ocular abnormalities associated with HLH and their potential risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 1525 HLH patients, 341 had ocular examinations, and 133 (133 of 341, 39.00%) had ocular abnormalities. Mean age at presentation was 30.21 ± 14.42 years. The multivariate analysis indicated that old age, autoimmune disorders, decreasing red blood cell count, decreasing platelet count, and increasing fibrinogen level were independent risk factors of ocular involvement in HLH patients. The most common presenting ocular findings were posterior segment abnormalities (66 patients, 49.62%), including retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, serous retinal detachment, cytomegalovirus retinitis, and optic disc swelling. Other HLH-associated ocular abnormalities included ocular surface infection (conjunctivitis, 34 patients, 25.56%; keratitis, 16 patients, 12.03%), subconjunctival hemorrhage (11 patients, 8.27%), chemosis (5 patients, 3.76%), anterior uveitis (11 patients, 8.27%), glucocorticoid-induced glaucoma (5 patients, 3.76%), radiation cataract (1 patient, 0.75%), dacryoadenitis (2 patients, 1.50%), dacryocystitis (1 patients, 0.75%), orbital cellulitis (2 patients, 1.50%), orbital pseudotumor (2 patients, 1.50%), and strabismus (2 patients, 1.50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Eye involvement is not uncommon in HLH. Better awareness among both ophthalmologists and hematologists is necessary for prompt diagnosis and institution of appropriate management strategies with potential to save sight and life.

Bilateral preretinal hemorrhage associated with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease

Purpose

To present a case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) who presented with a unique pattern of retinopathy.

Observations

A 7-year-old Taiwanese girl with HIV disease who was recently diagnosed with KFD had a sudden onset of blurry vision in both eyes one month after her KFD systemic symptoms had relatively resolved. Ophthalmic examination showed decreased visual acuity in both eyes (OU). On fundus examination, she had bilateral preretinal, subhyaloid, and vitreous hemorrhage that was more severe than anemic retinopathy.

Conclusion

Ocular manifestations in Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease are rare; however, if they occur, presentations may vary. The exact etiology of the disease has remained elusive and controversial. This case is the first report of a patient with HIV disease and KFD presenting with ocular involvement. Furthermore, bilateral preretinal, subhyaloid, and vitreous hemorrhage, which was beyond anemic retinopathy, is an unprecedented manifestation of KFD that has not been previously reported. This case highlights the necessity for clinicians to consider all possible differential diagnoses when evaluating patients with similar findings to identify the best therapeutic approach and avoid unnecessary treatment.

Bilateral macular hemorrhage in a patient with COVID-19

Purpose

We report a case of a patient with a known hereditary spherocytosis who developed a bilateral macular hemorrhage in concurrence with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-related respiratory syndrome.

Observations

Blood tests showed severe hemolytic anemia. Interestingly, the peripheral blood smear demonstrated a mixed pathogenesis of the hemolytic process (cold-agglutinin-mediated and non-immune-mediated due to spherocytosis).

Conclusions and Importance

We argue that SARS-CoV-2 could have triggered the hemolytic process, which led to retinal hemorrhages due to endothelial anoxia from the low oxygen carrying capacity.