Blindness in a pulseless young woman: lessons learned

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2012 Aug;20(4):309-11. doi: 10.3109/09273948.2012.690491. Epub 2012 May 30.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a young woman who presented with blindness secondary to ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) as the initial presenting feature of Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Design: Case report.

Methods: Computer tomography (CT) aortogram showed severely stenosed aortic branches. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed diffuse capillary nonperfusion.

Results: With conventional medical therapy of initial pulse of intravenous methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids and methotrexate, her headache, fatigued feeling, and inflammatory markers improved. However, the visual recovery remained poor.

Conclusions: OIS in TA may present subacutely and the visual outcome can be poor despite aggressive immunosuppressive therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / complications
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / drug therapy
  • Aortography / methods
  • Blindness / diagnosis*
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Eye / blood supply
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Takayasu Arteritis / complications
  • Takayasu Arteritis / diagnosis*
  • Takayasu Arteritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity / drug effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Methotrexate