I CANNOT SEE YOUR FACE! A CASE OF PURTSCHER DISEASE

Abstract

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Purtscher-like retinopathy is an acquired form of retinopathy due to hemorrhagic or vasoocclusive vasculopathy associated with acute pancreatitis and other systemic diseases 1. It is associated with severe vision. Recent studies suggested ophthalmoscopy performed within first 24 hours of developing acute pancreatitis was a good indicator for predictor of disease evolution, outcome and overall poor prognosis 2. We present a rare case of a young African American male who had experienced acute vision loss in the setting of severe alcoholic pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: 34-year-old African American male with a history of alcoholic dependence presents with abdominal pain. His last drink was 36 hours ago. It's described as sharp and radiating to his back. He denies any other ingestions or drug use. On presentation, vital signs show that he is mildly hypertensive, but otherwise within normal limits. Physical exam reveals epigastric tenderness on palpation with positive bowel signs, negative murphy sign, cullens sign and gray turners sign. Labs were significant for an elevated lipase as well as liver enzymes. No significant osmolar gap. Intravenous fluids were provided as well as pain control and patient was placed on a withdrawal assessment scale. Within 12 hours of admission, he started to experience alcoholic hallucinosis with decreased visual acuity and inability to recognize facial features. Fundoscopy revealed retinal whitening bilaterally, Intraretinal flame heme along inferior arcade of the right eye, cherry red spot of the left eye within the macula, consistent with Purtscher-like retinopathy in the setting of acute pancreatitis declaring him legally blind. Patient signed a 302 to receive further inpatient psychiatric care. DISCUSSION: The patient's acute psychosis from alcohol compounded his complaint of acute vision loss. Purtscher retinopathy is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis. The etiology is unclear, however in relation to pancreatitis, the condition may be caused by complement induced granulocyte activity causing cotton wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, and papilledema [2]. It should be suspected if patients voice concern of decreased visual acuity. Previously high dose steroids have been used but there is no evidence that this treatment improves morbidity. Recovery of visual acuity is variable with some patients regaining vision with mild loss of acuity and others remain legally blind. Certainly, a rare and interesting complication of acute pancreatitis. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation and treatment of patients with acute pancreatitis with visual complaints should raise concern for Purtcher's retinopathy. There are no current evidence-based treatment options. Close follow up with a retinal specialist is required. Further clinical studies are required to investigate treatment options for Purtcher's retinopathy. REFERENCE #1: Bissonnette B. Purtscher Disease. AccessAnesthesiology 2019. REFERENCE #2: C; CDRABFB. [Retinopathy in severe acute pancreatitis]. Oftalmologia (Bucharest, Romania : 1990). REFERENCE #3: Buckley, S. and James, B., 2020. [online] Pmj.bmj.com. Purtschers Retinopathy. [Accessed 7 July 2020]. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Abdelrhman Abo-zed, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Melissa Chrites, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Erica OKane, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Syed Arsalan Zaidi, source=Web Response