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Published on: December 15, 2011
Cryoglobulinemia associated with Purtscher-like retinopathy
J P Myers1, A M Di Bisceglie, E S Mann
1Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Purpose:
To report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in a young man with chronic hepatitis C--associated cryoglobulinemia.
Methods:
Case report.
Results:
A 44-year-old Caucasian man with chronic hepatitis C developed sudden loss of vision in the left eye and abdominal pain. Ocular fundus examination revealed peripapillary cotton-wool spots and superficial retinal whitening in the macula. Systemic evaluation revealed markedly elevated rheumatoid factor, hypertension, and acute renal insufficiency. A renal biopsy demonstrated intravascular deposition of immunoglobulins IgG and IgM and complement consistent with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia.
Conclusion:
Clinicians should consider cryoglobulinemia in the differential diagnosis of a patient with Purtscher-like retinopathy and history of infection with hepatitis C.

