Electric shock induced Purtscher-like retinopathy

Purtscher's and Purtscher-like retinopathy etiology, features, management, and outcomes: A summative systematic review of 168 cases

BACKGROUND

To describe Purtscher's and Purtscher-like retinopathy clinical features, etiologies, management options, and visual outcomes.

METHODS

Our protocol was registered on PROSPERO [registration number: CRD42023406843]. Seven online databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Medline, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Original articles were included if they reported at least one subject diagnosed with Purtscher's or Purtscher-like retinopathy. The primary outcome is to describe the clinical features of Purtscher and Purtscher-like retinopathies, including etiologies, results of related investigations, management lines, and visual outcomes. All analyses were conducted with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 (IBM SPSS Corp, SPSS Statistics ver. 26, USA) and Cochrane's RevMan software. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the NIH quality assessment tools.

RESULTS

A total of 114 articles were included, describing 168 cases of Purtscher's and Purtscher-like retinopathy. Patients were evenly distributed between males (50.89%) and females (49.11%). Average age of patients was 34.62 years old. Trauma was the leading cause of retinopathy, being reported in 39.88% of our patients, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (13.1%) and acute pancreatitis (11.9%). Bilateral symptoms were reported in 57.7% of patients with centrally blurred vision being the most complained symptom (OS: 34.32% and OD: 18%). 75% of patients elicited bilateral retinal findings. Cotton-wool spots were of highest prevalence (58%). Purtscher flecken was seen in 53% of patients. Macular edema was seen in 13% of patients. Overall, patients had a favorable prognosis (53%).

CONCLUSION

Purtscher's and Purtscher-like retinopathies are rare sight-threatening retinopathies that develop most commonly following trauma or other systemic diseases as SLE and acute pancreatitis. Little data is available regarding these conditions, and available data is of low quality. Patients develop bilateral disease in approximately 50% of cases, and several retinal findings are observed, with no specific tendency. Most observed signs are cotton-wool spots in around 55% of patients and Purtscher flecken in 51% of patients. Patients spontaneously recovered, although data is not conclusive. No clear prognostic value of etiological factors is identified, and further research is required in this regard.

Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy and Central Retinal Venous Occlusion following Electrical Injury

Purpose

To report a case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) following electric shock injury. Case Description. A 45-year-old male presented with a significant painless decreased vision in the right eye following an electrical injury of the right hand in his workplace. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the right eye was 20/40. Funduscopic examination of the right eye revealed diffuse superficial and deep intraretinal hemorrhages, mild venous tortuosity, and an area of the pale retina. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated hyperreflective band-like lesions in the middle retinal layers. Patchy areas of vascular flow void in deep capillary plexus seen in OCT angiography of the right eye were compatible with PAMM. Fluorescein angiography of the right eye was indicative of delayed venous filling suggestive of CRVO. The left eye was completely normal on exam and imaging.

Conclusion

This report illustrates the occurrence of CRVO associated with PAMM following electric shock injury. Electrical injury leads to a wide range of retinal manifestations. Clinicians need to pay attention to any hyperreflectivity and thinning of middle retinal layers in OCT in cases with the presentation of sudden visual loss following electrical injuries.

Electric Shock Retinopathy: Case Report of a Late Retinal Manifestation

Purpose:

This is a case report of a male patient who suffered a high-voltage electrical burn and presented with bilateral pigmentary retinopathy.

Methods:

A 40-year-old man presented with bilateral vision loss following a high-voltage electrical injury sustained 10 years earlier. Family history, ocular history, and anterior segment evaluation were unremarkable.

Results:

Fundus examination revealed bilateral optic disc pallor, widespread areas of chorioretinal atrophy, and pigmentary changes surrounding the optic disc that partially involved the macula with some spared areas located on the superior retina.

Conclusions:

Retinal manifestations following a high-voltage electrical injury can resemble other hereditary and inflammatory diseases with similar clinical patterns, therefore, a meticulous family, medical, and clinical evaluation is essential.