Vaso-occlusive retinopathy by systemic lupus erythematosus associated with the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

Abstract To report the case of a patient with vaso-occlusive retinopathy due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APAS), which started with signs and symptoms of autoimune hemolytic anemia accompanied by sudden monocular visual loss. Few cases of SLE manifestation primarily involving ocular changes have been reported in the Brazilian and international literature. Screening for antiphospholipid antibodies is of the greatest importance for patients with lupus retinopathy, so that immediate therapy with anticoagulants may be instituted in order to prevent vascular thrombosis, which worsens the visual prognosis.