Hypertensive choroidopathy in pre-eclampsia: two consecutive cases

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2014 Jul-Aug;45(4):343-6. doi: 10.3928/23258160-20140617-02. Epub 2014 Jun 30.

Abstract

Hypertensive retinopathy is well known, but choroidopathy is uncommon and associated with acute increases in blood pressure. Nonperfused areas of the choriocapillaris lead to changes of overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), resulting in neurosensory or RPE detachments. The authors describe two patients with serous retinal detachments associated with acute arterial hypertension in pre-eclampsia and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet count) syndrome. Subretinal fluid was demonstrated on ultra-widefield fundus imaging and optical coherence tomography. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography enabled imaging of the choroidal hypoperfusion. All signs and symptoms resolved after 1 and 3 months, respectively, with persistent macular pigmentary changes in both patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Choroid Diseases / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications*
  • Pre-Eclampsia*
  • Pregnancy
  • Retinal Detachment / etiology*
  • Serous Membrane