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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Measuring Local Anaphylaxis in Mice
Published on: October 14, 2014
[Purtscher-like retinopathy associated with antibiotic anaphylaxis]
Zhi-Xuan Huang1, Zhi-Bing Zeng, Zhu-Ping Xu
1Departmen of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
We report a case of an 18-year-old woman with systemic antibiotic anaphylaxis who presented anasarca and bilateral visual loss two weeks after the intravenous use of pazufloxacin. Ancillary fundus tests revealed bilateral cotton-wool spots, Purtscher flecken, edema, and retinal arteriolar occlusion around the optic disc. After pulse corticosteroid, administration of anti-anaphylactic agent, and general support therapy for one month, the patient showed a favorable change, with the symptoms lessened or free systemically, except the continuous aggravation of fundus ischemic change. After two intravitreal injections of Ranibizumab, there were still a large area of capillary non-perfusion and neovacularizations in the binocular retina, resulting in vitreous hemorrhage. The patient's visual acuity had still light perception after right-eye vitrectomy and presented no improvement during the postoperative follow-up of two years. Literature review revealed that there were many causes associated with Purtscher-like retinopathy, and the consequent visual impairment varied significantly. Prompt management of the underlying condition is crucial in giving the patient the best chance to restore vision.
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