A Cardiac Pseudoaneurysm as a Thromboembolic Source: Acute Visual Loss due to Cardiac Emboli

Acute visual loss is rarely caused by a heart condition. This manuscript transcribes a case report of a 36-year-old patient with a 2-year history of aortic valve replacement due to bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis that presents to the emergency department with an acute right eye visual loss. After ophthalmologic investigation identified a central retinal artery occlusion, a transthoracic echocardiography was performed to search for a possible cardiac embolus, despite the patient presenting INR values of 2-2.5 for the last year. A mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm was identified. A transoesophageal echocardiography was then performed, identifying a small clot logged inside the pseudoaneurysm that protruded to the left ventricle outflow tract. After INR-adjusted warfarin treatment to levels between 3 and 4, the pseudoaneurysm was surgically closed. This is a rare case since the likely source of embolism to the central retinal artery was the thrombus logged inside the pseudoaneurysm despite a standardly accepted therapeutic INR.

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Abstract 23: Detection of Atrial Fibrillation by Implantable Cardiac Monitoring After Acute Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.23 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Brian C Mac Grory ◽

Paul D Ziegler ◽

Sean Landman ◽

Amador Delamerced ◽

Anusha Boyanpally ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Central Retinal Artery ◽

Cardiac Device ◽

History Of ◽

Implantable Cardiac Device ◽

Retinal Artery

Introduction: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a form of ischemic stroke and necessitates a comprehensive workup, including for cardioembolic sources such as atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the incidence of new AF diagnosed after CRAO is unknown. We aimed to examine the incidence of new, cardiac device-detected AF after CRAO in a large population-based cohort. Methods: Using patient-level data from the Optum® de-identified EHR dataset (2007-2017) linked with Medtronic implantable cardiac device data, we identified patients that had a diagnosis-code corresponding to CRAO and no known history of AF, and who also had either a device in-situ at the time of CRAO or implanted ≤1 year post-CRAO with continuous AF monitoring data available. AF incidence was defined as ≥2 minutes of device-detected AF in a day. Results: Of 467,167 patients screened, 246/433 (56.8%) with CRAO had no history of AF, of whom 39 had an eligible implantable cardiac device (mean age 66.7±14.8, 41.0% female). Prevalence of vascular risk factors was high (hypertension, 71.8%; hyperlipidemia, 61.5%; coronary artery disease, 46.2%). Within 3 months, 7.7% of these patients (n=3) had device-detected AF. At 36 months, 33.3% of patients (n=13). The maximum daily AF burden post CRAO ranged from 2 minutes to 24 hours with a mean of 390±530 minutes. Of the patients with device-detected AF, 9 were found by an implantable cardiac monitor and 4 by pacemaker or defibrillator. Discussion: The rate of long-term AF detection after CRAO was high in patients with implanted cardiac devices, and appears comparable with rates seen after cryptogenic ischemic stroke and in other high-risk populations. Our findings warrant future prospective studies not limited by selection bias.

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Case Report: Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in a COVID-19 Patient

Frontiers in Pharmacology ◽

10.3389/fphar.2020.588384 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Montesel ◽

Claudio Bucolo ◽

Victoria Mouvet ◽

Emmanuelle Moret ◽

Chiara M. Eandi

Keyword(s):

Vision Loss ◽

Previous History ◽

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Central Retinal Artery ◽

History Of ◽

Severe Vision Loss ◽

Retinal Artery ◽

Vascular Occlusions

We report a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a patient with a previous history of severe COVID-19 disease. This disease has been associated with inflammatory-induced homeostasis changes leading to endothelial dysfunction and a procoagulant state with multi-organ involvement, but the burden of thromboembolic complications in COVID-19 patients is currently unknown. The pathogenesis of retinal artery occlusions is a multifactorial process where inflammation and hypercoagulation state are established risk factors. Even if our experience may represent a coincidental relationship, it is likely that COVID-19 patients could be at risk of developing retinal vascular occlusions. A focused ophthalmological surveillance is advisable to prevent and manage this possible cause of severe vision loss that has an important impact in health care system.

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Central retinal artery occlusion from Streptococcus gallolyticus endocarditis

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-235763 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. e235763

Author(s):

Rita Serras-Pereira ◽

Diogo Hipolito-Fernandes ◽

Luísa Azevedo ◽

Luísa Vieira

Keyword(s):

Vision Loss ◽

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Transoesophageal Echocardiography ◽

Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Central Retinal Artery ◽

Streptococcus Gallolyticus ◽

Cardiovascular Comorbidities ◽

Cherry Red Spot ◽

Retinal Artery

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare but blinding disorder. We present a case of a 81-year-old woman with multiple cardiovascular comorbidities admitted to the emergency department due to sudden, painless vision loss on left eye (oculus sinister (OS)) on awakening. The patient also reported long standing fatigue associated with effort that started 4 months before admission. She presented best corrected visual acuity of counting fingers OS. Funduscopy OS revealed macular oedema with cherry red spot pattern. Blood cultures came positive for Streptococcus gallolyticus in the context of a bacteremia and native mitral valve vegetation identified on transoesophageal echocardiography. CRAO of embolic origin was admitted in the context of an infective endocarditis. CRAO can be the first manifestation of a potentially fatal systemic condition and thus multidisciplinary approach is warranted with close collaboration between ophthalmologists and internists in order to provide proper management and the best possible treatment.

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Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Associated with Sildenafil Overdose

Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine ◽

10.1155/2021/2006271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Mojtaba Abrishami ◽

Seyedeh Maryam Hosseini ◽

Hamid Mohseni ◽

Majid Razavi ◽

Amir Ghaffarian Mashhadi Nejad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Loss ◽

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Central Retinal Artery ◽

Limited Area ◽

Predisposing Factor ◽

Cherry Red Spot ◽

Retinal Artery ◽

The Right

Background. To report a patient with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) associated with sildenafil overdose. Case Presentation. A forty-two-year-old male presented three hours after sudden painless visual loss in the right eye. BCVA was counting finger in two meters, and relative afferent pupillary defect was positive. Fundus examination revealed retinal whiteness except in a limited area of papillomacular bundle and cherry red spot. He consumed two 100 mg film-coated sildenafil tablet (Vizarsin, Krka, d.d., Novo mesto, Slovenia) twelve hours apart, and the last one was six hours before visual loss. He was diagnosed with CRAO with cilioretinal artery sparing. Although we did not find any emboli, anterior chamber paracentesis was done. Four weeks later, BCVA improved to 20/80, with resolving of retinal edema. Cardiovascular, carotid arteries, and neurologic evaluations were negative for any predisposing factor. Conclusion. CRAO is a vision threatening condition that might be associated with the overdose of sildenafil.

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Vision loss in giant cell arteritis

Practical Neurology ◽

10.1136/practneurol-2021-002972 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. practneurol-2021-002972

Author(s):

Laura Donaldson ◽

Edward Margolin

Keyword(s):

Optic Nerve ◽

Optic Neuropathy ◽

Visual Loss ◽

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Retinal Artery Occlusion ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Central Retinal Artery ◽

Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy ◽

Ciliary Arteries ◽

Retinal Artery

Almost two-thirds of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) develop ocular symptoms and up to 30% suffer permanent visual loss. We review the three most common mechanisms for visual loss in GCA, describing the relevant ophthalmic arterial anatomy and emphasising how ophthalmoscopy holds the key to a rapid diagnosis. The short posterior ciliary arteries supply the optic nerve head, while the central retinal artery and its branches supply the inner retina. GCA has a predilection to affect branches of posterior ciliary arteries. The most common mechanism of visual loss in GCA is anterior arteritic optic neuropathy due to vasculitic involvement of short posterior ciliary arteries. The second most common cause of visual loss in GCA is central retinal artery occlusion. When a patient aged over 50 years has both anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy and a central retinal artery occlusion, the diagnosis is GCA until proven otherwise, and they should start treatment without delay. The least common culprit is posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, resulting from vasculitic involvement of the ophthalmic artery and its pial branches. Here, the ophthalmoscopy is normal acutely, but MR imaging of the orbits usually shows restricted diffusion in the optic nerve.

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