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Color vision abnormality as the sole manifestation of posterior reversible encephalopathy due to post‐partum HELLP syndrome
Author(s) -
Takahashi Hironori,
Matsubara Teppei,
Makino Shinji,
Horie Kenji,
Matsubara Shigeki
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.13241
Subject(s) - hellp syndrome , medicine , photophobia , posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome , achromatopsia , abnormality , occipital lobe , encephalopathy , visual acuity , ophthalmology , pregnancy , magnetic resonance imaging , preeclampsia , radiology , psychiatry , retinal , genetics , biology
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is associated with several symptoms; of those, visual acuity loss, light oversensitivity (photophobia), and light flashes (photopsia) are known as PRES‐related eye symptoms. We report a post‐partum woman with PRES associated with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome (HELLP), in whom color vision abnormality (achromatopsia) was the sole manifestation. Cesarean section was performed at 28 weeks due to headache, epigastralgia, and severe hypertension. HELLP became evident after delivery. On post‐partum day 1, she complained of achromatopsia, stating: “all things look brownish‐gray”. Ophthalmologic examination was normal, but brain magnetic resonance imaging showed occipital lobe lesions, indicative of PRES, and, interestingly, also color vision center (area V4) lesions, suggesting that the achromatopsia had been caused by brain damage. It may be prudent to question HELLP patients concerning achromatopsia.