Bilateral severe visual loss in a patient with acute pancreatitis: Purtscher-like Retinopathy

Abstract

Purtscher retinopathy is a unilateral or bilateral visual loss following acute injury to the thorax or head. It is characterized by large cotton-wool spots, hemorrhages, and retinal edema. Vision loss may be permanent due to isquemia of the retina, and optic atrophy. Is thought to be a result of injury-induced complement ativation causing granulocyte aggregation and leukoembolization. Other conditions may active complement and may produce similar fundus appearance including acute pancreatitis, collagen-vascular diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.Keywords: Retina. Pancreatitis. Optic atrophy. Complement activation. Optic nerve.Retinopatia de Purscher é caracterizada por perda visual uni ou bilateral seguida de trauma de tórax ou crânio. A retinopatia apresenta-se com manchas algodonosas, hemorragias e edema da retina. A perda da visão pode ser permanente devido a isquemia visão súbita e permanente após diagnostico de pancreatite aguda.