Clinical features of Purtscher-like retinopathy associated with COVID-19 / 中华眼底病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the clinical features in patients of Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR) associated with COVID-19.Methods:A retrospective clinical study. Clinical data of 4 patients (7 eyes) of PLR associated with COVID-19 which was firstly diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of The Army Medical University ranging from December 2022 to January 2023 were included. All patients were examined by best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), multifocal electroretinogram (mf-ERG), visual field. Oral vasodilators and neurotrophic agents were applied after definite diagnosis. Three patients were treated by intravenous dexamethasone (10 mg) for 3 days. Follow-up time spans for 4 weeks. The multi-model images, clinical features and treatment response of patients were also retrospectively studied.Results:Among 4 patients (7 eyes), 2 cases were male (3 eyes), 2 cases were female (4 eyes), the mean age was (36.00±17.57) years; 3 cases were unilateral, 1 case were unilateral. The time from diagnosis of COVID-19 to the onset of eye symptoms was 2 to 3 days. The BCVA of the affected eye was finger counting for 20 cm to 0.5. Color fundus photography examination revealed that several retinal whitening of varying sizes distributed diffusely on the retina (cotton-wool spots and Purtscher flecken). OCT examination showed that the retinal nerve fiber layer was significantly thickened and the reflex was enhanced in the area corresponding to the gray and white lesions, the inner nuclear layer, internal and external plexus layer segmental and banded strong reflex was observed in 5 eyes. En-face image showed mottled strong reflex in the inner retinal layer and around the deep capillary plexus (DCP). For OCTA, the signal of superficial capillaries and cotton wool spots were lost, and blood flow of deep DCP was poorly distributed. FFA examination showed that the obscured fluorescence of choroid background of Purtscher spot and capillary non-perfusion area. mf-ERG examination showed decreased amplitude of retinal a-wave and b-wave. Visual field examination showed central and paracentral scotoma. During follow-up, the BCVA of diseased eyes were raised, scotomas were shrunk, cotton wool spots and Purtscher flecken became smaller. OCT examination showed that the thickness of the original thickened retinal nerve fiber layer became thinner, the area of the strong reflex area was reduced, and the inner layer of the original segmental strong reflex area was thinner. OCTA examination revealed partial recovery of blood flow signal.Conclusion:For PLR associated with COVID-19, OCT shows thickening of retinal nerve fiber layer, segmental and banding strong reflex in part of the inner layer and inner plexus layers; OCTA is manifested by ischemia in the middle retina and DCP.