Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Jul;56(4):261-264.

Development of Purtscher-like retinopathy after pre-eclampsia combined with acute pancreatitis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. eui2536@hanmail.net

Abstract

Visual disturbances are common among women with pre-eclampsia. The obstetricians should have an understanding of the various conditions associated with visual impairments. We report a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy developed after pre-eclampsia combined with acute pancreatitis. A 33-year-old primigravida with twin pregnancy was admitted to the department of obstetrics and gynecology for preterm labor and pre-eclampsia at 36+4 weeks gestation. After a cesarean section, she complained of abdominal pain and visual acuity loss. She was diagnosed with Purtscher-like retinopathy combined with acute pancreatitis after ophthalmologic examination and an abdominal computed tomography scan. Purtscher-like retinopathy, most often observed after trauma, is very rare in pre-eclampsia. In addition, while visual disturbances from other conditions are transient, it can result in persistent visual impairments. Thus, when a patient with pre-eclampsia complains of visual problems for a long period of time, obstetricians should consider an ophthalmologic evaluation and treatments during the earliest stage of the disease.

Keyword

Pancreatitis; Pre-eclampsia; Retinal diseases; Vision disorders

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Cesarean Section
Female
Gynecology
Humans
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Obstetrics
Pancreatitis
Pre-Eclampsia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, Twin
Retinal Diseases
Vision Disorders
Visual Acuity

Figure

  • Fig. 1 The retinal photography shows characteristic multiple cotton-wool exudates, known as Purtscher flecken, in both eyes and a retinal splinter hemorrhage in the right eye.

  • Fig. 2 Brain magnetic resonance imaging shows normal findings.


Reference

1. Roos NM, Wiegman MJ, Jansonius NM, Zeeman GG. Visual disturbances in (pre)eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2012. 67:242–250.
2. Dinn RB, Harris A, Marcus PS. Ocular changes in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2003. 58:137–144.
3. Cunningham FG, Veno KJ, Bloom SL. Cunningham FG, Leveno KJ, Bloom SL, Hauth JC, Rouse DJ, Spong CY, editors. Pregnancy hypertension. Williams obstetrics. 2010. 23rd ed. New York (NY): The McGraw-Hill;706–750.
4. Agrawal A, McKibbin M. Purtschers retinopathy: epidemiology, clinical features and outcome. Br J Ophthalmol. 2007. 91:1456–1459.
5. Agrawal A, McKibbin MA. Purtschers and Purtscher-like retinopathies: a review. Surv Ophthalmol. 2006. 51:129–136.
6. Roncone DP. Purtschers retinopathy. Optometry. 2002. 73:166–172.
7. Stewart MW, Brazis PW, Guier CP, Thota SH, Wilson SD. Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with HELLP syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol. 2007. 143:886–887.
8. Cernea D, Dragoescu A, Novac M. HELLP syndrome complicated with postpartum subcapsular ruptured liver hematoma and Purtscher-like retinopathy. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2012. 2012:856135.
9. Ducarme G, Chatel P, Alves A, Hammel P, Luton D. Management of necrotizing pancreatitis in the third trimester of pregnancy. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2009. 279:561–563.
10. Parmar MS. Pancreatic necrosis associated with pre-eclampsia-eclampsia. JOP. 2004. 5:101–104.
11. Raheem M, Lala A, Abukhalil I. An aggressive presentation of postpartum acute necrotizing pancreatitis. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2004. 24:703–704.
Full Text Links
  • OGS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr