Internal limiting membrane separation and posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots: novel OCT findings in Purtscher-like retinopathy

Abstract

Background Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy is diagnosed by retinal hemorrhages and areas of retinal whitening on fundus examination, as well as a reduction in visual acuity due to microvascular occlusion of the precapillary retinal arterioles. We describe novel optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of internal limiting membrane (ILM) separation and posterior hyperreflective dots in a case of Purtscher-like retinopathy in this report. Methods A 33-year-old man with acute pancreatitis and alcohol-induced liver disease presented to the retina department complaining of four days of painless vision loss in both eyes. Both eyes’ anterior segment examination and intraocular pressure were normal. Dilated fundus examination of both eyes revealed confluent areas of retinal whitening, hemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots over the posterior pole, indicating Purtscher-like retinopathy. OCT scans through the macula revealed dense inner retinal reflectivity, thickening, and loss of retinal layer stratification, as well as outer retinal layer shadowing and islands of ILM separation, posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots, and minimal subfoveal fluid, all of which corresponded to areas of retinal whitening on fundus photographs. The patient was given a brief course of systemic steroids. Results On the tenth day after the presentation, visual acuity in the right eye had improved to 6/18 and finger counting at 1 m in the left eye. The retinal findings had faded. The retina had reverted to its normal thickness on the OCT scans, with minimal hyperreflectivity remaining. The ILM separation and posterior vitreous hyperreflective dots were no longer present. Conclusion Following Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy, we believe inflammation could play a major role in the development of these two novel OCT findings. This case offers an additional perspective on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the retinal manifestations observed in Purtscher or Purtscher-like retinopathy.