Severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Aleksandra Radosavljević; Jelena Karadžić; Igor Kovačević; Jelena Ljikar; Gordana Devečerski

doi:10.2298/VSP150605136R

Aleksandra Radosavljević Clinic for Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Karadžić Clinic for Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Igor Kovačević Clinic for Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Ljikar Clinic for Eye Diseases Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
Gordana Devečerski Clinic for Medical Rehabilitation, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP150605136R

Keywords: lupus erythematosus, systemic, retinal diseases, retinal neovascularization, comorbidity, vitrectomy,

Abstract

Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic idiopathic autoimmune inflammatory disease, with multiple organ involvement. Severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy is a rare, sight threatening lupus-related manifestation of the disease, which is more common in patients with coexisting antiphospholipid syndrome. Case report. We reported a 36-year-old female with severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy that manifested in the absence of antiphospholipid syndrome. In a 4-year follow-up, despite aggressive systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy and panretinal laserphotocoagulation treatment, the disease progressed to retinal neovascularisation, neovascular vitreoretinopathy, neovascular glaucoma and, consecutively, severe visual loss. As the final option for preservation of visual function, pars plana vitrectomy with laserphotocoagulation was performed and had good results. Progression of ophthalmological findings indicated the progression of the systemic disease, as well as neurolupus. Conclusion. Severe vaso-occlusive retinopathy occurred as the ophthalmological manifestation of SLE in the absence of antiphospholipid syndrome, but correlated with neurolupus and led to visual deterioration despite the treatment.

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