Central retinal artery occlusion and cerebral inrfaction following forehead injection with a corticosteroid suspension for vitiligo

Ou-gen Liu¹ , Li Chunming¹ , Wang Juanjuan² , Xiong Xiaoyan²

¹ Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
² Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

Correspondence Address:
Ou-gen Liu
1 Minde Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province
China

Sir,

A 15-year-old boy with a patch of vitiligo 2 cm above his left eyebrow received a subcutaneous injection of undiluted triamcinolone acetonide suspension (1 ml; 40 mg/ml) into the lesion. Several seconds after injection, he suddenly felt dizzy and complained of blurred vision in both his eyes. Five minutes later, he had no light perception in both eyes.

On examination at 7 hours, his muscle strength was normal and lower limb tendon reflexes were active. Pupillary light reflex was absent in both eyes and the intraocular pressures were normal. Retinal and macular edema associated with cherry red spot and scattered blot hemorrhages were present in the bilateral central retina [Figure - 1]a and b. The visual evoked potential showed bilateral visual pathway impairment. MRI showed acute infarction in the corpus callosum [Figure - 2]. Ultra-sonography of ophthalmic and cerebral arteries was normal. A diagnosis of bilateral central retinal artery occlusion and cerebral infarction was made. Therapy was directed towards anti-platelet aggregation, neurological nutrition, and dansen, a traditional Chinese medication for improving microcirculation was administered. After ten days of treatment, the patient had no vertigo but light perception did not recover in either eye.

Figure 1: (a) Retinal and macular edema associated with cherry red spot (b) Scattered blot hemorrhage in the central retina

Figure 2: MRI showing acute infarction in the corpus callosum

Unilateral central retinal artery occlusion following periocular injections of corticosteroid suspensions has been reported earlier. ^[1],[2] Our case is unusual in that there was bilateral central retinal artery occlusion with cerebral infarction; however, a similar case has recently been reported after cosmetic hyaluronic acid injection. ^[3] Owing to multiple anastomoses between the vascular supply of the face, orbit and ethmoids, there is potential for retrograde embolization of substances. It is likely that direct injection of the triamcinolone acetonide suspension (particle sizes range from 1 to 1000um ^[4] ) into a branch of the supraorbital artery was responsible for the bilateral central retinal artery occlusion. When the force of the injection is sufficient, the emboli can be propelled into the ophthalmic artery and via the internal carotid artery retrogradely into the anterior cerebral artery (a branch of the internal carotid artery which supplies the corpus callosum), causing cerebral infarction.

Caution is necessary while administering periocular intradermal injections of suspensions and other insoluble materials. Injections should be performed slowly and at as low a pressure as possible. Because the peripheral arteries of the face are small and collapsible, blood may not appear during aspiration in the syringe despite entry of the needle into an arterial lumen. ^[5] It is necessary to be aware of the potential risks and benefits before such injections are given. If central retinal artery occlusion is suspected, early treatment with sublingual nitroglycerine may improve chances for visual recovery. ^[6]

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