Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with COVID-19-associated coagulopathy / Retinopatia tipo Purtscher em paciente com coagulopatia associada ao COVID-19

ABSTRACT The most frequently reported ophthalmic manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is conjunctivitis. We have described a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated coagulopathy. A young woman with multiple comorbidities was admitted for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Her course was complicated by fungemia. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral posterior pole, intraretinal lesions and fluconazole was added for presumed fungal retinitis. At 1-week follow-up, widespread peripapillary cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages suggestive of Purtscher-like retinopathy were observed. The levels of D-dimers, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were markedly elevated prior to our consultation, indicating preceding prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory states. Subsequent venous duplex revealed deep venous thrombosis in the right subclavian and internal jugular veins. Von Willebrand factor indices were markedly elevated, suggesting severe COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Purtscher-like retinopathy, a rare occlusive microangiopathy has been described in various pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Purtscher-like retinopathy in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.

RESUMO A manifestação oftálmica mais frequentemente re­latada da infecção por SARS-CoV-2 é a conjuntivite. Trata-se de estudo de caso de retinopatia tipo Purtscher em uma paciente com coagulopatia grave associada ao COVID-19. Uma jovem com múltiplas comorbidades foi admitida por síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo relacionado ao COVID-19. Seu quadro foi complicado pela fungemia. O exame oftálmico revelou pólo posterior bilateral, lesões intraretinianas e o fluconazol foi adicionado para tratar a retinite fúngica presumida. No decorrer de uma semana, manchas largas peripapilares de algodão e hemorragias sugestivas de retinopatia tipo Purtscher foram observadas. Os dímeros D, o fibrinogênio e a proteína c-reativa estavam acentuadamente elevados antes da nossa consulta, indicando um estado pró-trombótico e pró-inflamatório precedente. O duplex venoso subsequente revelou trombose venosa profunda nas veias subclávia direita e jugular interna. Os índices de fatores von Willebrand estavam marcadamente elevados, sugerindo coagulopatia grave associada ao COVID-19. A retinopatia tipo Purtscher, uma microangiopatia oclusiva rara foi descrita em várias condições pró-inflamatórias e pró-trombóticas. Para nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro relatório de retinopatia tipo Purtscher com coagulopatia associada ao COVID-19.

Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.

The most frequently reported ophthalmic manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is conjunctivitis. We have described a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated coagulopathy. A young woman with multiple comorbidities was admitted for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome. Her course was complicated by fungemia. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral posterior pole, intraretinal lesions and fluconazole was added for presumed fungal retinitis. At 1-week follow-up, widespread peripapillary cotton-wool spots and hemorrhages suggestive of Purtscher-like retinopathy were observed. The levels of D-dimers, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were markedly elevated prior to our consultation, indicating preceding prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory states. Subsequent venous duplex revealed deep venous thrombosis in the right subclavian and internal jugular veins. Von Willebrand factor indices were markedly elevated, suggesting severe COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Purtscher-like retinopathy, a rare occlusive microangiopathy has been described in various pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Purtscher-like retinopathy in COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.

Impact of Anxiety Levels and Sleep Patterns on Perceived Pain During Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injections.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of anxiety and sleep patterns on intravitreal injection pain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective, noninterventional study surveyed patients scheduled for intravitreal injection by two retinal surgeons. A standard intravitreal injection technique was used. Patients filled out pre-procedure General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires. Post-procedural pain was assessed with a visual analogue scale. Quality and hours of sleep and anxiety levels were correlated with perceived intravitreal injection pain. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean ± standard deviation scores were 4.9 ± 5.6 for the GAD-7, 6.3 ± 4.1 for the PSQI, and 3.69 ± 2.64 for intravitreal injection pain. Anxiety correlated with intravitreal injection pain (rho = 0.25; P = .003). Previous night's sleep (rho = -0.16; P = .057) and poor sleep quality (rho = 0.14; P = .11) were weakly correlated. Regression analysis revealed anxiety was the only significant predictor of intravitreal injection pain. A 1-point increase in anxiety predicted a 0.10-point increase in intravitreal injection pain (B = 0.10, P = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety level was the best predictor of perceived pain. This has implications for pre-procedural anxiety screening. [Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:498-504.].

Evaluation of Potential Systemic Adverse Events Related to Fluorescein Angiography in Pediatric Patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate adverse events of fluorescein angiography (FA) in pediatric patients. DESIGN: Single-institution retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: Patients 0 to 18 years of age who underwent FA between January 2010 and December 2015 at a single institution in the United States. METHODS: Pediatric patients who underwent FA by 3 surgeons were included in the study. Patients with fewer than 24 hours of documented follow-up were excluded. Significant adverse events within 24 hours of FA were evaluated. Detailed intraoperative and perioperative physiological parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and ventilation parameters, in inpatients undergoing simultaneous examination under anesthesia were reviewed. Peri-injection effects of FA were evaluated by 2-tailed paired t test comparison of mean 5-minute preinjection and 5-minute postinjection physiological data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Significant adverse events associated with FA. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients with a total of 214 FA examinations were included. No significant adverse events were associated directly with FA. Comparison of mean 5-minute preinjection and postinjection physiologic parameters in 27 patients who underwent intravenous FA during EUA did not reveal significant changes associated with FA. A significant difference was found in average patient age between inpatient (2.5 years) and outpatient (10.7 years) FA (P < 0.00001). The youngest patients who underwent successful FA were 3.8 years old in the outpatient setting and 32 weeks' postmenstrual age in the inpatient setting. Patients younger than 3.8 years accounted for most (77.6%; n = 85) inpatient FA examinations. Excluding patients with a need or likely need for laser or surgery, the reasons for inpatient FA in patients older than 3.8 years included the lack of availability of outpatient ultra-widefield FA (UWFA) and more challenging situations in patients with developmental delay. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescein angiography was not found to be associated directly with systemic adverse events in pediatric patients in this study. Younger patients more commonly were found to require an inpatient FA, whereas older patients older than 4 years underwent outpatient UWFA.

Early Diagnosis and Management of Aggressive Posterior Vitreoretinopathy Presenting in Premature Neonates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aggressive posterior vitreoretinopathy (APVR) manifests with a broad area of retinal avascularity, progressive neovascularization, and/or tractional retinal detachment during the neonatal period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective, observational, consecutive case series study was performed to evaluate the retinal findings and structural retinal outcomes in patients treated for APVR within the first 3 months of life. RESULTS: Three premature neonates with a non-retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) APVR identified during routine ROP screening exams exhibited relatively severe, rapidly progressive retinal vascular abnormalities. Immediate laser photocoagulation of the avascular retina and vitrectomy for traction retinal detachment within several days to weeks improved or stabilized the retinal anatomy in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: This series describes clinical features in APVR in premature infants and suggests that early diagnosis and intervention may mitigate the typical aggressive course and poor prognosis of this condition. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:201-207.].

Retinal reperfusion in diabetic retinopathy following treatment with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to report peripheral reperfusion of ischemic areas of the retina on ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections in patients treated for diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of 16 eyes of 15 patients with diabetic retinopathy, who received anti-VEGF intravitreal injections and underwent pre- and postinjection UWFA. The main outcome measured was the presence of reperfusion in postinjection UWFA images in areas of the retina that demonstrated nonperfusion in preinjection images. Images were analyzed for reperfusion qualitatively and quantitatively by two graders. RESULTS: Twelve of 16 eyes (75%) or 11 of 15 patients (73.3%) demonstrated reperfusion following anti-VEGF injection. On UWFA, reperfusion was detected both within the field of 7-standard field (7SF) fluorescein angiography and in the periphery outside the 7SF. Four of 16 eyes or 4 of 15 patients did not demonstrate reperfusion, one of which had extensive scarring from prior panretinal photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetic retinopathy, treatment with anti-VEGF agents can be associated with reperfusion of areas of nonperfusion, as demonstrated by UWFA.

Pachychoroid neovasculopathy in extramacular choroidal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To review a series of extramacular choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) in the context of their choroidal features, as determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Patients with extramacular CNVMs were identified from a tertiary care center through a review of records. The charts and cases were reviewed using multimodal imaging including fundus photography, OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine angio-graphy (ICG). RESULTS: Of six patients with extramacular CNVMs evaluated in this series, four patients (66.7%) exhibited pachychoroidopathy on OCT imaging under or adjacent to the extramacular CNVM. All four of these patients also exhibited pachychoroidopathy in the macular OCT distant from the CNVM. CONCLUSION: Pachychoroidopathy is implicated in some cases of extramacular CNVMs. This represents the first report, to our knowledge, of pachychoroidopathy in extramacular CNVM.

Retinal vascular nonperfusion in siblings with Dandy-Walker variant.

We report the case of a 2-month-old girl with Dandy-Walker variant who presented with strabismus, pathologic myopia measuring -16.00 D in each eye, diffuse chorioretinal atrophy and pigment mottling in the macula of both eyes, and areas of retinal capillary nonperfusion in both eyes. The patient's brother also has Dandy-Walker variant and was found to have bilateral severe myopia, myopic fundi, tilted optic disks with peripapillary atrophy, extensive areas of white without pressure, areas of lattice degeneration, and several chronic-appearing atrophic retinal holes surrounded by pigmentation. We hypothesize that children with Dandy-Walker variant may present with refractive errors such as pathologic myopia and with diverse retinal findings, including retinal ischemia. A lower threshold for ophthalmologic examination may be considered in this population.

Incidence of cystoid macular edema with iris-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses in patients presenting with lens dislocation.

The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of cystoid macular edema (CME) following repositioning and McCannel iris-suturing of dislocated intraocular lenses. This study is conducted in an urban private practice. A retrospective chart review was performed on consecutive patients who presented with posteriorly dislocated IOLs and underwent iris-sutured posterior chamber (PC) intraocular lens (IOL) placement using the McCannel suture technique by a single surgeon for IOL repositioning from December 2008 to August 2012. All charts were reviewed for etiology of dislocation, time elapsed from cataract surgery, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination, tonometry, and dilated fundus examination. Presence of CME was determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA). Of the 58 cases reviewed, lens dislocation resulted from trauma in 21 %, zonular incompetence in 17 %, recent intraocular surgery in 12 %, and unknown in 50 %. Mean best-corrected logMAR visual acuity improved from 1.07 preoperatively to 0.52 postoperatively (P < 0.001). The mean follow-up time was 7.8 months. Two cases (3.4 %) of CME occurred postoperatively at a mean follow-up time of 4.5 months. Of these two patients, one had concurrent fragmetome lensectomy at the time of initial surgery. Iris-sutured PC IOL placement in this case series resulted in an improvement in BCVA with a low incidence of CME.

Intraocular pressure in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration switched to aflibercept injection after previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments.

PURPOSE: To assess for change in intraocular pressure (IOP) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients switched to aflibercept after receiving previous treatments of intravitreal bevacizumab or ranibizumab. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of the first 53 patients (53 eyes) treated with at least 2 injections of 2 mg in 0.05 mL of aflibercept by March 6, 2013, after at least 2 previous injections of 0.5 mg in 0.05 mL of ranibizumab with or without previous injections of 1.25 mg in 0.05 mL of bevacizumab. The analysis was restricted to the first such sequence within each patient. The last previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection before the switch to aflibercept was ranibizumab in all cases included in the study. Each person served as his or her own control. The pre-aflibercept IOP in the before state (treatment with bevacizumab or ranibizumab) was the preinjection IOP measure before dilation at the visit of the first aflibercept injection. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: There were 41 patients who were first treated with ranibizumab followed by aflibercept and 12 patients treated with ranibizumab and bevacizumab followed by aflibercept. For each of these sequences, IOP in the treated eye during treatment with aflibercept (the after state) was computed in 3 different ways: the first IOP, the last IOP, and the mean IOP for the period when treated with aflibercept. The pooled data showed a mean pre-aflibercept (the before state) IOP of 14.87 that decreased to a mean first IOP of 14.57, mean last IOP of 13.79, and a mean IOP of 14.14 during aflibercept treatment. The inference is based on the pooled analysis. The 95% confidence interval for the differences (after minus before) were -0.30 (-1.12 to 0.52), -1.08 (-1.83 to -0.32), and -0.73 (-1.30 to -0.17) for the first, last, and mean IOPs, respectively. The corresponding P values were 0.46 for the first, 0.006 for the last, 0.01 for the mean IOP during the aflibercept treatment period. CONCLUSION: Intraocular pressure was found to be significantly lower in patients switched to aflibercept after previous treatments with ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab. Aflibercept may have a more favorable IOP safety profile in patients previously on other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments.

Delayed macular hole formation after demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachment.

The purpose of this paper is to report a series of macular holes that developed after demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachments. This observational case series consists of three eyes from three patients seen between 2005 and 2012. Delayed idiopathic macular hole formation occurred following demarcation laser photocoagulation for subclinical retinal detachment. Demarcation laser photocoagulation of subclinical retinal detachments may predispose to macular hole formation.

Reduced effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents on diabetics with vitreomacular interface abnormalities.

This study investigated whether the presence of vitreomacular interface abnormalities (VMIAs) affects the improvement in visual acuity and edema of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) who received three anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. Fifteen eyes of 11 patients with clinically significant macular edema were retrospectively divided into either the control group (only DME) or the experimental group (DME and VMIA) based on optical coherence tomography images. We defined VMIA patterns as epiretinal membrane and/or anomalous vitreomacular adhesion. Changes in central macular thickness (CMT), total macular volume (TMV), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from the baseline to post third injection were compared between the two groups. After the third injection, the decreases in CMT and TMV were not statistically different between the two groups. The improvement in BCVA was larger in the control group (0.1742 ± 0.0508 logMAR) than in the experimental group (0.0766 ± 0.0562 logMAR; p < 0.01). Our study showed that after the third anti-VEGF injection, the BCVA of patients with both DME and VMIAs improved significantly less than that of patients with only DME. Our results suggest that VMIAs may play a crucial role in reducing the therapeutic effects of anti-VEGF agents.

Immunogammopathies and acquired vitelliform detachments: a report of four cases.

PURPOSE: To describe the nature and evolution of acquired macular detachments in patients with immunogammopathies and to propose a mechanism for their development. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. METHODS: Three patients with multiple myeloma and 1 with light chain deposition disease were diagnosed with vitelliform macular detachments based on clinical examination, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography. These patients were followed over time and their clinical examinations and imaging studies were compared and contrasted. RESULTS: Three patients (5 eyes) with multiple myeloma and 1 patient (2 eyes) with light chain deposition disease presented with acquired macular yellowish subretinal deposits on funduscopic examination that corresponded to hyperautofluorescent lesions on fundus autofluorescence imaging and subretinal hyperreflective material on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. One patient (2 eyes) had diffuse serous retinal detachments involving not only the macular region but also the midperiphery of the retina. These acquired macular vitelliform detachments were not associated with signs of hyperviscosity retinopathy in 5 eyes and resolved after successful treatment of the multiple myeloma in 6 eyes. CONCLUSION: Patients with an immunogammopathy such as multiple myeloma or light chain deposition disease may develop serous elevations of the macula that we classify as acquired vitelliform detachments using multimodal imaging. Appropriate evaluation including serum protein electrophoresis and hematology consultation should be considered in the management of patients with acquired vitelliform detachments of uncertain etiology.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings in a case of laser pointer-induced maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence findings in a case of laser pointer-induced maculopathy. METHODS: Observational case report of a patient with bilateral decreased visual acuity after exposure to a handheld green laser pointer. RESULTS: A 15-year-old boy presented with decreased vision after exposure to a green laser pointer. Fundoscopy revealed gray and yellowish round spots in the foveal area of both eyes. Fundus autofluorescence imaging revealed subtle changes of the normal background macular autofluorescence of the right eye, with hyperautofluorescence dots in the fovea of the left eye. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed a variety of changes of the outer retina and retinal pigment epithelium, with disruption of the external limiting membrane, the photoreceptor ellipsoid zone of the inner segments, and the interdigitation zone in the foveal region in both eyes. Six months after laser exposure, fundoscopic examination showed persistent alterations at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium in the fovea in both eyes. Fundus autofluorescence revealed mild but persistent changes of the normal autofluorescent macular background in both eyes. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed partial resolution of the outer retinal disruption noted on his initial visit with persistent, small foveal photoreceptor defects in both eyes. CONCLUSION: Laser pointer maculopathy may disturb the outer retinal architecture in a manner evident on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence, resulting in decreased visual acuity. Proper warnings should accompany these devices and access to them by minors should be limited.

Epidemiology of the association between anticoagulants and intraocular hemorrhage in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To determine the cumulative incidence and annual incidence of intraocular hemorrhage (subretinal hemorrhage or vitreous hemorrhage) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and association with daily antiplatelet or anticoagulant (AP/AC) medication usage (aspirin, clopidogrel, and warfarin), age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or bilateral neovascular AMD. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study in a tertiary university setting. Data on 195 eyes of 195 patients without previous intraocular hemorrhage examined over 73 months were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-six of 195 patients (49.2%) were taking daily AP/ACs. Of patients taking daily AP/AC agents, 63.5% had hemorrhage compared with 29.2% of patients not taking (odds ratio = 4.21; 95% confidence interval = 1.42-8.46; P < 0.001). The overall annual incidence of intraocular hemorrhage was 0.14% per year. Among patients taking daily AP/AC, the cumulative incidence (61 of 96, 63.5%) and annual incidence (0.10%) of concurrent intraocular hemorrhage were significantly greater compared with patients not taking them (29 of 99, 29.2% and 0.04%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Fourteen of 18 patients (77%) taking more than 1 daily AP/AC had occurrence of intraocular hemorrhage. Antiplatelet or anticoagulant usage was an independent risk factor for the development of intraocular hemorrhage. The use of any agent resulted in a significantly increased risk of developing intraocular hemorrhage. Additionally, presence of bilateral neovascular AMD was a significant association in those taking daily AP/ACs, whereas age was a significant association in those not taking daily AP/AC agents. CONCLUSION: All three daily AP/AC types were significantly associated with an increased risk of the development intraocular hemorrhage in patients with neovascular AMD, whereas gender, hypertension, and diabetes were not. Age was not significantly associated with hemorrhage in patients taking daily AP/AC agents, whereas the presence of bilateral neovascular AMD was significantly associated with hemorrhage. These findings indicate that the AP/AC use may predispose patients with neovascular AMD to intraocular hemorrhage more so than age and duration of disease alone. While the risk that discontinuing these medicines would pose to the patients' health may be too great to justify, ensuring that an appropriate medication dosage is maintained should be a priority within this patient population.