Acute vision loss in systemic lupus erythematosus: bilateral combined retinal artery and vein occlusion as a catastrophic form of clinical flare

Abstract

Presentation of a combination of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO)/central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is extremely rare. Herein, we have presented the case of a 29-year-old female with SLE, who simultaneously developed bilateral CRVO and BRAO/CRAO in the absence of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) as a catastrophic form of clinical flare. A combinatorial diagnosis of CRVO and BRAO/CRAO should be considered during clinical flare-up in a patient with SLE who presents with rapidly progressive visual loss.