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Delayed visual recovery in pregnancy-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with bilateral serous retinal detachment

  • Clinical Case Report
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Abstract

Background

To present a pregnancy-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) patient with bilateral serous retinal detachment (SRD).

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 28-year-old nulliparous woman with 31 weeks gestation was presented to the local hospital with preeclampsia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and bilateral blurry vision. Funduscopic examination showed bilateral macular SRD. Within the first month after delivery of a live female baby via cesarean section (at 32 weeks gestation), the patient experienced a recurrent course of hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, and was then transferred to our hospital. On admission, her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.1 OU; optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed the presence of bilateral macular SRD; electroretinography (ERG) examination showed diminished rod responses with reduced a and b waves in cone and mixed rod-cone responses. She was ultimately diagnosed with TTP and was treated systemically with fresh frozen plasma, rituximab, prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Despite persistent visual disturbances, she was discharged 1 month after admission with stabilization of systemic manifestations. At her first follow-up visit 6 months after discharge, surprisingly, her BCVA had improved to 1.0 OU; fundus examination and OCT confirmed the complete resolution of bilateral macular SRD and ERG revealed subnormal (right) and normal (left) electrophysiological responses. We believe that in this case, the clinical context (pregnancy) in which TTP developed, the unreported ERG characteristics and the unexpected delayed visual recovery are worth reporting.

Conclusions

TTP should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis in patients with pregnancy-associated SRD. Appropriate systemic treatment might be mandatory for visual recovery.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Beijing Nature Science Foundation (7102148) and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China and the Foundation Fighting Blindness, USA (Grant No.: CD-CL-0808-0470-PUMCH).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, 1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of China

    Chan Zhao, Yingxin Qu, Ruifang Sui, Jin Ma, Ruxin Jiang & Hui Li

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Aerospace Seahawks Central Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Yingxin Qu

  3. Department of Hematology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Feng

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Jinsong Gao

Authors
  1. Chan Zhao
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  2. Yingxin Qu
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  3. Ruifang Sui
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  4. Jun Feng
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  5. Jinsong Gao
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  6. Jin Ma
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  7. Ruxin Jiang
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  8. Hui Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chan Zhao.

Additional information

Chan Zhao and Yingxin Qu contributed equally to this work and both qualify as the first author.

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Zhao, C., Qu, Y., Sui, R. et al. Delayed visual recovery in pregnancy-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with bilateral serous retinal detachment. Doc Ophthalmol 126, 163–169 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-012-9365-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-012-9365-7

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