Denis Jusufbegovic, MD » Miscellaneous

Sep 25 2021 by Denis Jusufbegovic, MD

27-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with decreased vision to counting fingers at 2’ in the right eye. Funduscopic examination of the right eye (A) demonstrated retinal thickening and whitening of the macula, numerous cotton-wool spots, intra-retinal hemorrhages, sclerotic vessels, and vascular sheathing. Fluorescein angiography (B) demonstrated extensive vessel wall leakage (red asterisk) and large areas of capillary non-perfusion (white asterisk). These findings were consistent with severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy, a serious ophthalmologic manifestation of SLE. She was also diagnosed with concomitant cerebral lupus vasculitis. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisone taper and aspirin therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil was titrated to 1500 mg twice daily. Upon follow-up vision improved to 20/200.

Imaging device: Zeiss Clarus 500

Condition/keywords: cerebral lupus vasculitis, cotton wool spots, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) vasculitis, vaso-occlusive disease