Spontaneous exudative retinal detachment in a patient with sturge-weber syndrome after taking arginine, a supplement for erectile dysfunction.

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with Sturge-Weber syndrome can have ipsilateral diffuse or circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas. These hemangiomas have been seen to undergo spontaneous exudative or hemorrhagic retinal detachments. There is no definitive treatment for these types of retinal detachments, but radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, oral propranolol, pegaptinib and bevacizumab have been used.Case presentationA 26-year-old male with Sturge-Weber Syndrome developed an exudative retinal detachment that occurred immediately after taking a supplement containing arginine. The patient was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25 mg in 0.05 ml solution. Resolution of the retinal detachment was seen after 4 treatments over a six-month period.ConclusionsArginine and other medications that cause a release of nitric oxide may lead to intravascular leakage and exudative retinal detachments in patients who have a choroidal hemangioma.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40662-014-0007-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.