Transient vision loss associated with paracentral acute middle maculopathy detected on multi-modal imaging

Purpose: To report two patients with transient decreased vision and associated paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) lesions identified with multi-modal imaging, including what we believe to be the first documented patient of PAMM associated with iron deficiency anemia. Observations: Case 1 is...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jesse D. Sengillo, Lily Zhang, Jayanth Sridhar, Harry W. Flynn, Jr., Stephen G. Schwartz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-12-01
Series:American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451993621002048
Description
Summary:Purpose: To report two patients with transient decreased vision and associated paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) lesions identified with multi-modal imaging, including what we believe to be the first documented patient of PAMM associated with iron deficiency anemia. Observations: Case 1 is a 56-year-old man who experienced transient blurred vision one week following cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation. Symptoms resolved by the time of presentation and visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye. Ocular examination was unremarkable aside from subtle discoloration within the papillomacular bundle in the right eye. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) revealed thickening of the middle retinal layers with a corresponding area of hyporeflectivity on the en face infrared image. This area of hyporeflectivity was confirmed on “structural” SD-OCT angiography, although no flow voids were identified. Fluorescein angiography was normal. Case 2 is a 25-year-old man with no past medical history who noted decreased central vision in his right eye upon awakening. Visual acuity was light perception in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Posterior segment examination in the right eye showed tortuous retinal vessels and subtle pallor involving the superior part of the macula. SD-OCT showed thickening of the middle retinal layers of the superior macula with a corresponding area of hyporeflectivity on the en face infrared image. Systemic work-up was completed and identified severe iron deficiency anemia as the most likely inciting factor. In both cases, visual acuity was 20/20 in each eye at follow-up. Conclusions: Small arterial occlusions of the retina remain difficult to diagnose and may represent a sequela of systemic disease. Multi-modal imaging is helpful in equivocal cases with subtle clinical findings. Importance: The present case report illustrates the utility of multi-modal imaging in diagnosing transient ischemic events of the retina, and reports what we believe to be the first association of PAMM with iron deficiency anemia.
ISSN:2451-9936