Vnitr Lek 2008, 54(3):276-281

Purtscher-like retinopathy - a rare complication of acute pancreatitis

B. Krahulec^1,*, J. Štefaničková², S. Hlinšťáková¹, E. Hirnerová¹, V. Kosmálová¹, J. Hasa², K. Peško², P. Strmeň², A. Dukát¹

¹ II. interná klinika LF UK a FNsP Bratislava, Slovenská republika, prednosta prof. MUDr. Andrej Dukát, CSc., FESC

² I. oftalmologická klinika LF UK a FNsP Bratislava, Slovenská republika, prednosta prof. MUDr. Peter Strmeň, CSc.

The article reports the case of a 27-year old woman hospitalised in the internal medicine ward for acute pancreatitis after eating fat food and drinking alcohol. In addition to acute pancreatitis, the patient complained of vision problems. The ophthalmologist detected bilateral occurrence of large whitish nidi located primarily around the optic disc, intraretinal hemorrhage and a massive retinal oedema in the central field and diagnosed Purtscher-like retinopathy. After a month of treatment of acute pancreatitis, the clinical picture improved, the patient's vision sharpness improved and the laboratory parametres returned to normal. The finding on the ocular fundus also improved. Even though similar cases are rare, more patients with acute pancreatitis should be checked for eventual vision disorders. Ocular fundus examination should be included in the set of tests performed for acute pancreatitis, similarly to the practice in arterial hypertension or diabetes mellitus patients.

Keywords: Purtscher-like retinopathy; acute pancreatitis

Received: October 30, 2007; Accepted: December 21, 2007; Published: March 1, 2008  Show citation