Bilateral serous retinal detachment in a patient with atypical presentation of preeclampsia due to HELLP syndrome

• Published in: Revista española de anestesiología y reanimación (English ed.) 2022-02
• Main Authors: Sánchez Zamora, P, Alina Mejía Arnaud, R, Saz Castro, R, Gómez Del Pulgar Vázquez, B, José Correa Barrera, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2341-1929
• DOI: 10.1016/j.redar.2020.11.015

Exudative retinal detachment (ERD) is a rare complication that occurring in 1% of patients with preeclampsia, its incidence is increased when it is associated with HELLP syndrome. Preeclampsia is defined by the development of arterial hypertension and proteinuira occurs after 20 weeks of gestation until postpartum. HELLP syndrome (low platelets, hemolysis and elevated liver enzymes) is a severe form of preeclampsia. ERD in preeclampsia is related to choroidal ischaemia, in the vast majority of the cases associated with hypertensive retinopathy. However, it has been proposed that the combination of hypertension with a microangiopathic hemolysis, hipercoagulability and hypoalbuminemia are the main factors contributing to the development of ERD. Its treatment includes a rapid resolution of labor to reverse ocular manifestations and prevent visual sequels. We describe the case of a pregnant woman with atypical preeclampsia who, in the postpartum of a cesarean, presented an ERD concomitantly with a HELLP syndrome.