Background: Susac's syndrome, a rare autoimmune vasculo-occlusive disease, may pose a diagnostic challenge and result in a devastating ocular and systemic outcome. Our study identifies a new retinal finding and evaluates disease outcome. We aimed to assess clinical and imaging findings, systemic manifestations and disease outcome in patients with ocular Susac's syndrome under immunosuppressive/immunomodulation therapies.
Methods: Retrospective tertiary center study including patients with a diagnosis of Susac's syndrome with >12 months follow up. Medical record review including ocular, neurological and auditory clinical and imaging findings, and treatment modalities. Main outcome measures were clinical manifestations and disease outcome.
Results: Seven patients (14 eyes) with a mean age of 34.1 years were included. Mean follow-up was 31.9 months (12.4-72.4). All had bilateral ocular disease. Retinal microaneurysms, a new ocular finding, were demonstrated in 5 patients and persisted at the final visit. In 5 eyes, they further extended during follow-up. All were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and 5/7 additional immunomodulation therapy. At last examination, best corrected visual acuity was >20/40 in all eyes, 1/10 eyes had visual field deterioration, no eye had active ocular disease, all patients achieved neurological stability, and 1 patient had auditory deterioration.
Conclusion: Retinal microaneurysms, a new ocular finding in Susac's syndrome, were present in most of our patients, indicating ischemic retinal damage. Immunosuppressive and immunomodulation therapies seem to be highly effective in the control of disease activity.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01464-7 | DOI Listing |
Rheumatology (Oxford)
January 2025
Department of Pédiatrie Générale, Assistance Publique et Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, France.
Susac is a rare systemic disease characterized by ischemic events involving the cochlea, brain, and retina. Delay in the diagnosis leads to sight-threatening complications such as neovascular glaucoma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Neurology, King's College Hospital, Dubai, ARE.
Susac's syndrome is a rare inflammatory microangiopathy characterized by the triad of retinopathy, encephalopathy, and hearing loss. The syndrome causes recurrent microinfarcts in these organs, which in turn manifests with repeated attacks of visual field loss, hearing loss and tinnitus, and various brain syndromes. These often lead to the significant accumulation of disability over time, particularly if there is a delay or failure in diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm
March 2025
The Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University.
Background And Objectives: Susac syndrome (SuS) is a rare disorder characterized by encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusion, and sensorineural hearing loss, often accompanied by vertigo. Recent updates to diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines have been made. This study examines clinical manifestations; disease activity; and risk factors of disability, dependency, and return to work in patients with SuS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Neurol
January 2025
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
Background: Susac syndrome (SuS) is a rare immune-mediated microangiopathy with potential disabling evolution. We aimed to analyze brain microstructural damage through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in SuS and determine its association with poor outcomes.
Method: CarESS study is a prospective multicenter national cohort study of patients with SuS.
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