Bilateral frosted branch angiitis in an initial case of systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT Frosted branch angiitis is a rare and severe form of retinal vasculitis. It may be idiopathic or arise secondary to a systemic disease. We have reported here an unusually severe case of frosted branch angiitis in a previously healthy 13-year old girl who presented with significantly reduced vision in both eyes. In this case, frosted branch angiitis was one of the presentations of systemic lupus erythematosus. The characteristic patterns of frosted branch angiitis were observed on fundoscopy in both eyes. An extensive etiological study was conducted, whereby the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was confirmed. Only a few such cases have been reported so far in the literature.

【摘要】霜枝样血管炎（frosted branch angiitis）是一种罕见且病情危重的视网膜血管炎（retinal vasculitis），可呈特发性发作，或继发于全身性疾病。本文报告1例罕见重症病例：患者为既往体健的13岁女性，以双眼视力显著下降为首发表现，其霜枝样血管炎表现为系统性红斑狼疮（systemic lupus erythematosus）的临床征象之一。双眼眼底镜检查可见特征性的霜枝样血管炎病变。经全面的病因学排查，最终确诊为系统性红斑狼疮。目前全球已发表的医学文献中仅报道过少数此类病例。