Progressive macular ischemia in retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan;33(1):NP92-NP96. doi: 10.1177/11206721211044632. Epub 2021 Sep 8.

Abstract

Purpose: We present a case of retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy and review the usefulness of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in the assessment of long-term outcomes.

Case description: A 31-year-old woman developed sudden-onset scotoma in her right eye. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography showed a patch of soft exudate and capillary nonperfusion in the posterior pole and outside the vascular arcades. OCT-A revealed that the initial vessel density (VD) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) of the right eye were 32% and 49.2%, respectively. Interestingly, over time, the VD of the SCP and DCP gradually decreased to 23.1% and 26.2%, respectively. In contrast, the initial VD of the SCP and DCP of the left eye were both stable at 44.3% and 56.2%, respectively, and only decreased slightly to 39.3% and 45.7%, respectively, over time. The average VD loss of the SCP and DCP, assessed over 1 year, was 8% and 13%, respectively, in the right eye, and 3% and 6%, respectively, in the left eye.

Conclusion: Based on this case report, in which we demonstrated a long-term decline in VD of the macula in a young woman with mild retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy, we suggest that there is a potential and valuable role for OCT-A in this rare disease.

Keywords: Ischemia; optical coherence tomography angiography; retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy; vessel density.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Ischemia / etiology
  • Macula Lutea* / blood supply
  • Retinal Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Diseases* / etiology
  • Retinal Vessels
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods