Retinal embolization from endocarditis.
Arterial emboli, fragmentation of both the arterial and venous blood columns, and bilateral cherry red spot were seen in the fundus of a patient with progressive onset of visual loss. Initially, the patient, a 56-year-old housewife, was thought to have temporal arteritis. Her clinical condition worsened on steroids which was subsequently discontinued when 5 out of 6 blood cultures were reported positive. Showers of microemboli were responsible for her unusual fundus findings.
D001167:Arteritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004487:Edema / Q000150:complications; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012169:Retinal Vein; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification