Maculopathy in patient with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with hydroxychloroquine

Reumatol Clin. 2012 Sep-Oct;8(5):280-3. doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2011.12.012. Epub 2012 Apr 4.

Abstract

A 50-years-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus treated for 13 years with hydroxychloroquine developed nephropathy and high blood pressure five years ago as well as moderate loss of vision in her right eye. Fundoscopy showed alterations of macular pigmentation only in the right eye. Visual fields 10-2 were normal in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed hyperreflective foveal thickening with a hyporreflective cavity underlying in the right macula, and was normal in left macula. Fluorescein angiography showed no bulls-eye pattern, but did show microaneurysms in vascular arcades. Multifocal central electroretinogram was diminished in right eye and the electrorretinogram pattern was diminished in both eyes. We concluded that the alterations of the right eye were suggestive of ischemic maculopathy, not hydroxychloroquine toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm / diagnosis
  • Aneurysm / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroretinography
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fovea Centralis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / adverse effects
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Hypertension / complications*
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Ischemia / diagnosis*
  • Ischemia / etiology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Lupus Nephritis / etiology
  • Macula Lutea / blood supply*
  • Macula Lutea / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Retinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Vision Disorders / etiology*

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Hydroxychloroquine