Bilateral central retinal artery occlusions and hughes syndrome

The purpose of this study to report a case of bilateral retinal artery occlusions in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies.

A 28-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus presented with sudden painless bilateral vision loss. Clinical examination and flourescein angiography were performed, and a diagnosis of bilateral central retinal artery occlusions was made. Laboratory evaluations were ordered.

Laboratory evaluation revealed the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies.The patient was treated with corticosteroids, azathioprine, aspirin, and warfarin. The patient's visual acuity gradually improved over 2 weeks and then remained stable for 6 months without any further thrombotic events.

The presence of bilateral retinal artery occlusions in a young patient should prompt an immediate evaluation for antiphospholipid antibodies, especially if the patient has been previously diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Correctly diagnosing patients with antiphospholipid antibodies is important because it implies the need for long-term anticoagulative and antiaggregative therapies to reduce the patient's risk of recurrent, life-threatening, thrombotic events.