PATENT FORAMEN OVALE – A RARE CAUSE OF RECURRENT ACUTE OPTIC NEUROPATHY AND CEREBROVASCULAR EVENTS

Authors

  • Ana Maria DASCALU “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
  • Daniela STANA University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
  • L. GRECESCU University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
  • D. SERBAN “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

We report the case of a young female patient who developed recurrent acute bilateral and asymmetric vision loss, associated with pain and paresthesia on the right half of the body. Brain and spinal cord MRI showed inactive gliotic lesions, not suggestive of multiple sclerosis-related diseases. A wide range of autoantibodies were tested to exclude neuromyelitis optica, an autoimmune systemic disease, a paraneoplastic neurological syndrome or an autoimmune channelopathy; all came back negative. Cardiac examination and transthoracic echocardiography revealed persistent foramen ovale (PFO). Paradoxical ocular and brain embolism was the presumed cause of patient’s uncommon clinical features. She underwent percutaneous closure with 25mm septal occlude, followed by permanent antiplatelet therapy, with favorable clinical outcome. Conclusions: This case is a unique association of recurrent PFO-related ocular and neurologic symptoms and emphasizes the necessity of considering cardiovascular causes among young patients who present with transient vision loss. Medical imaging was extremely important both in diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment, with favorable outcome and social reintegration of the patient.

Author Biographies

  • Ana Maria DASCALU, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

  • D. SERBAN, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

    University Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

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Additional Files

Published

2020-06-30

Issue

Vol. 124 No. 2 (2020): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

SURGERY

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