Asymmetric Purtscher-Like Retinopathy Caused by a Hypertensive Emergency and Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR) in the setting of a hypertensive emergency and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A case was analyzed. Results: A 29-year-old, obese, hypertensive man presented with a 10-day history of progressive vision loss in the left eye with no history of trauma. The visual acuity was 20/25 OD and hand motions OS. A fundus examination showed dilated, tortuous veins; dot-blot and flame hemorrhaging; numerous cotton-wool spots; and polygonal areas of retinal whitening consistent with Purtscher flecken in the right eye and a vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye. The blood pressure was 226/125 mm Hg, and the hemoglobin A1c was 11.6%. The patient's presentation was concerning for a hypertensive emergency and type 2 DM as the etiology for the ocular findings. Conclusions: The presence of one condition in association with PLR does not exclude the presence of another concurrent etiology.

• Authors: Richmond Woodward, Yuxi Zheng, Sharon Fekrat
• Journal: Journal of vitreoretinal diseases (J Vitreoretin Dis) 2023 Sep-Oct Vol. 7 Issue 5 Pg. 459-462 ISSN: 2474-1272 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37706084 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023.