[Severe visual loss due to retinal artery occlusion associated with Susac's syndrome: a case report]

Susac's syndrome consists of the clinical triad of cerebral microangiopathy, branch retinal artery occlusions, and hearing loss. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. The severity of retinal vasculopathy remains variable.

A 57-year-old Caucasian woman presented in 1999 for the diagnostic and therapeutic management of a severe and complete form of the disease. Fluorescein angiography and cerebral MRI were contributive in this case and confirmed the diagnosis. A severe unilateral visual loss occurred one month after the initiation of systemic corticosteroids. Funduscopy disclosed a temporal retinal artery occlusion with major ischemia. Therefore, cyclophosphamide and anticoagulants were added to corticosteroids and total visual recovery was achieved within 2 weeks without any relapse after a follow-up period of 54 months.

Therapeutic management of Susac's syndrome is still controversial. Major immunosuppressive regimens are mandatory in the face of severe visual loss associated with central or branch retinal artery occlusions. The final prognosis of the disease seems favorable in the absence of prolonged and symptomatic retinal ischemia.