Disturbances of Ocular Circulation in Color Doppler Imaging, Retinal Changes and Electrophysiological Tests with Neuro-Ophthalmological Clinical Symptoms in the Course of CADASIL Syndrome—A Case Report

Abstract

The authors present a new paper examining the disturbances in ocular circulation and electrophysiological changes in the presence of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations in a patient with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infracts and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL). Symptoms reported by the patient included: transient vision loss (TVL), migraines, diplopia, bilateral peripheral visual field loss and convergence insufficiency. CADASIL was confirmed by the presence of NOTCH3 gene mutation (p.Cys212Gly), the presence of granular osmiophilic material (GOM) in cutaneous vessels in an immunohistochemistry test (IHC) and bilateral focal vasogenic lesions in the white matter of the cerebral hemisphere, with micro-focal infarct in the left external capsule on a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI). Color Doppler imaging (CDI) confirmed decreased blood flow and increased vascular resistance in the retinal and posterior ciliary arteries, with reduced P50 wave amplitude on a pattern electroretinogram (PERG). An eye fundus examination and fluorescein angiography (FA) revealed the constriction of retinal vessels and a peripheral retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy with focal drusen. The authors suggest that the cause of TVL may be changes in the hemodynamics of the retinochoroid vessels associated with the narrowing of small vessels and the presence of druses in the retina—which is supported by a decrease in the amplitude of the P50 wave in PERG, changes in OCT correlating simultaneously with changes in MRI imaging and other neurological symptoms.