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RETINAL ISCHEMIA AFTER FOCAL CEREBRAL ARTERIOPATHY IN A YOUNG GIRL
Franco Benvenuto1,2, Maria F Colorado-Zavala3, Raul E Ruiz-Lozano3
1Ophthalmology Department, National Pediatric Hospital Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan, Argentina.
Retinal Cases & Brief Reports
|March 30, 2023
Summary
A childhood stroke caused severe vision loss in a 9-year-old girl, leading to ischemic retinopathy. This case highlights the critical link between cerebrovascular events and ocular complications in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood stroke is a significant neurological event with potential long-term consequences.
- Ischemic retinopathy, a severe form of vision loss, is typically associated with conditions like diabetes or hypertension, rarely with pediatric stroke.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old girl experienced acute neurological deficits, diagnosed as left internal carotid artery thrombosis and ischemic stroke.
- Following stroke treatment, she developed sudden, severe vision loss in the left eye, characterized by intraretinal hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and retinal whitening.
Findings:
- Fundus examination revealed signs consistent with ischemic retinopathy.
- Optical coherence tomography demonstrated inner retinal atrophy and an enlarged foveal avascular zone.
- Vision deteriorated to counting fingers within six weeks.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for severe ocular complications following pediatric stroke.
- Ischemia-reperfusion injury is proposed as the mechanism for this unusual presentation of ischemic retinopathy.
- Highlights the need for ophthalmologic evaluation in children with stroke presenting with visual symptoms.
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