Longitudinal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Malignant Hypertension Choroidopathy: A Case Report

Narine Viruni; Sally S Ong; Jo-Hsuan Wu; T Y Alvin Liu

doi:10.1159/000524115

Longitudinal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Malignant Hypertension Choroidopathy: A Case Report

Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2022 Apr 21;13(1):276-281. doi: 10.1159/000524115. eCollection 2022 Jan-Apr.

Authors

Narine Viruni¹, Sally S Ong¹, Jo-Hsuan Wu², T Y Alvin Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Shiley Eye Institute and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.

Abstract

This report presented the longitudinal optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in a patient with malignant hypertension choroidopathy. An 87-year-old woman presented with acute unilateral central vision loss in the setting of hypertensive emergency. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed massive serous macular detachment. OCTA revealed extensive flow loss in the neuroretina and choriocapillaris. With blood pressure (BP) normalization and without any ocular intervention, visual acuity recovered on subsequent visits. Flow loss in the neuroretinal capillaries persisted, but significant improvement in the perfusion of the choriocapillaris was observed. This case demonstrates extensive choriocapillaris flow loss in the acute phase of malignant hypertension, and a temporal relationship between BP normalization, improvement of choriocapillaris perfusion, and decrease of subretinal fluid, providing additional insight into the pathophysiology of this life- and sight-threatening systemic condition.

Keywords: Choroidopathy; Malignant hypertension; Optical coherence tomography angiography; Retinopathy.

Publication types

Case Reports