Posterior subcapsular cataract in Degos disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Dermatology
• Pathology

Background:

• Degos disease is a rare systemic vasculopathy with a high mortality rate.
• Ocular manifestations of Degos disease are increasingly recognized.

Observation:

• A 42-year-old male patient with confirmed Degos disease developed a posterior subcapsular cataract.
• The cataract appeared in his left eye at age 43, one year prior to his death.

Findings:

• The patient's Degos disease diagnosis was pathologically confirmed via skin biopsy and necropsy.
• This case suggests a potential association between posterior subcapsular cataracts and Degos disease.

Implications:

• Posterior subcapsular cataract may be an additional ocular finding in Degos disease.
• This expands the spectrum of known visual complications, alongside visual field defects, cranial nerve palsies, blepharoptosis, and optic atrophy.