Acute Pancreatitis with Purtscher's-like Retinopathy / 대한췌담도학회지

ABSTRACT

A 28-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on clinical symptoms, laboratory findings and computed tomography findings. On the second day of hospitalization, he complained of sudden visual disturbance. The ophthalmologic examination showed Purtscher's-like retinopathy. Two weeks after initial presentation, his vision was significantly improved along with epigastric pain. Retinal arteriolar occlusion by complement-mediated leukoembolization is the proposed pathogenic mechanism of Purtscher's-like retinopathy. Increased activity of proteases such as trypsin, associated with acute pancreatitis might be linked with the production of complement C5a. We report a rare case of Purtscher's-like retinopathy associated with acute pancreatitis.