High-altitude retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To report a patient with high-altitude retinopathy.


METHODS
A 30-year-old man with high-altitude retinopathy was examined and treated.


RESULTS
After spending 2 weeks at an altitude of 7,000 meters and then descending to sea level, the patient's visual acuity was RE, 20/20 and LE, 20/50. Intraretinal hemorrhages in both eyes and a scotoma in the left eye were found. Blood cell count was normal, but hematocrit had increased to 53%. The patient was treated with isovolemic hemodilution, pentoxifylline, and aspirin, which reduced hematocrit to 41%. Visual acuity and visual field returned to normal, and intraretinal hemorrhages resolved.


CONCLUSIONS
High-altitude hemoconcentration should be treated in patients with high-altitude retinopathy.
Lang
G E
GE
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulm, Germany. uni.augenklinik@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Kuba
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006400:Hematocrit; D006438:Hemodilution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014792:Visual Acuity
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001241:Aspirin; D010431:Pentoxifylline