Exchange transfusion in sickling maculopathy.
Unilateral macular infarction occurred in a 23-year-old black man with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy (SS), who was already receiving oxygen and hydration treatment for a painful crisis. Visual acuity of 20/200-1 in the affected eye did not improve with 36 hours of "conservative" treatment. Fifteen hours after an exchange transfusion, however, visual acuity started to improve. By 36 hours after transfusion, a visual acuity of 20/40 was achieved, with the gradual return over 8 weeks to 20/20. This case provides strong circumstantial support for the effectiveness of exchange transfusion in sickling maculopathy.
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000150:complications*; D014792:Visual Acuity