Central retinal vein occlusion and cerebellar infarction complicating systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report

Abstract

We treated a 17-year-old woman who had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and bilateral cerebellar infarction in the absence of demonstrable antiphospholipid antibodies. General fatigue, diffuse polyarthralgia, malar rash, and fever had developed during the 2 weeks preceding admission. The patient was diagnosed with SLE based on the presence of pleuritis, oral ulceration, pancytopenia, and antinuclear antibodies. Despite intravenous pulse therapy with methylprednisolone, blindness developed in the left eye and bilateral cerebellar infarcts were evident on magnetic resonance images. Fluorescein angiography revealed extensive retinal venous thrombosis leading to widespread retinal vein leakage, and a diagnosis of CRVO.

Key words::

• Central retinal vein occlusion
• Cerebellar infarction
• Systemic lupus erythematosus