Salmon patch-associated vitreous hemorrhage in non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy masquerading as infectious...

To report three cases of non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (NPSR) with vitreous hemorrhage masquerading as infectious uveitis.

Three patients were referred from ophthalmologists to our practices with clinical findings suggestive of infectious uveitis. The first patient was referred for new-onset floaters in both eyes, bilateral vitritis and dome-shaped lesions on B-scan ultrasound. He was initially treated for tuberculosis uveitis due to a positive purified protein derivative test. The second patient was referred with floaters and hazy vision in the setting of recent fever and headache and was also reported to have vitritis and unilateral yellow vitreoretinal lesions on fundoscopy. She was initially treated for toxoplasmosis and endogenous endophthalmitis. The third patient presented with flashes, floaters, and decreased vision four months after a ring-enhancing lesion was found on brain imaging, and was found to have unilateral vitritis with yellow vitreoretinal lesions. He was initially started on topical steroids and cycloplegics empirically for uveitis. All patients were ultimately diagnosed as having manifestations of NPSR, including vitreous hemorrhage, and dehemoglobinized salmon patch hemorrhages.

NPSR can occasionally masquerade as infectious uveitis. Obtaining a detailed history with relevant ancillary testing, along with performing a careful physical exam to recognize important clues, can help the physician arrive at the correct diagnosis in these equivocal cases.