Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year
: 2009  |  Volume : 57  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 403--404

Amalric sign and central retinal artery with lateral posterior ciliary artery occlusion


Natesh Sribhargava, K Harsha, Savitha Prasad, Bhujang K Shetty 
 Department of Ophthalmology, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, India

Correspondence Address:
Natesh Sribhargava
Narayana Nethralaya, 121/C, Chord Road, Rajajinagar I block, Bangalore-560 010
India




How to cite this article:
Sribhargava N, Harsha K, Prasad S, Shetty BK. Amalric sign and central retinal artery with lateral posterior ciliary artery occlusion.Indian J Ophthalmol 2009;57:403-404


How to cite this URL:
Sribhargava N, Harsha K, Prasad S, Shetty BK. Amalric sign and central retinal artery with lateral posterior ciliary artery occlusion. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2009 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];57:403-404
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2009/57/5/403/55060


Full Text

Dear Editor,

Amalric was the first to describe an unusual triangular pigmented disturbance in the fundi of patients with ischemic ocular disorders. [1] The same sign is described in vasculitides like polyarteritis nodosa, [2] giant cell arteritis and Wegener's granulomatosis. We present our experience of managing a patient with "Amalric sign".

A 37-year-old gentleman, a chronic smoker, presented with sudden onset of blurred vision in left eye of three days duration. Best corrected vision in right eye was 20/40 and left eye was counting fingers at half meter.

He had a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) in left eye, and retinal edema with an indistinct cherry red spot. There were triangular hypopigmented subretinal lesions extending temporal to the macula [Figure 1]a, b. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed delayed arm to retina time, widened watershed zone, choroidal non-perfusion areas, delayed arteriovenous transit time and triangular hyperfluorescent areas corresponding to the hypopigmented patches which densely fluoresced in late phase [Figure 2],[Figure 3]a, b. Optical coherence tomography showed increased reflectivity and thickness of the inner retina and a corresponding decrease of reflectivity in the outer retinal layers. The retina was thin over the hypopigmented lesions [Figure 4]a, b. Investigations done were normal except for raised triglycerides 700 mg/dL (ref: 40-140), decreased high-density lipoprotein 12 mg/dL (ref: 30-60) levels and elevated serum homocysteine levels 27.47 mcmol/L (ref: 5.90-16.0). Echocardiography was normal. Carotid Doppler showed complete occlusion of left distal internal carotid artery (ICA).

This case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with lateral posterior ciliary artery (LPCA) and distal ICA occlusion demonstrates the rare finding of triangular sign of Amalric. Amalric postulated that this disturbance was caused by choroidal infarction. [1] Hayreh produced similar lesions in rhesus monkeys by cutting the medial and LPCA. He noted that these lesions occurred at 18-24 h of PCA occlusion, were elongated, subretinal and became depigmented after two to three weeks. [3] They were located in the periphery, with bases toward the equator and apices toward the posterior pole. [4]

This is the first photographed case of the triangular sign of Amalric in CRAO and LPCA occlusion due to ICA occlusion in a smoker. The delayed arteriovenous transit time, RAPD suggest CRAO apart from the cherry red spot. The patient did not have any optic disc features of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The lacunae were the lack of indocyanin green (ICG) and electrophysiological tests. However, patient did not consent for the same and was lost to follow-up.

Amalric sign is a rare clinical finding that indicates choroidal ischemia and may be associated with CRAO.

References

1Amalric P. Acute choroidal ischaemia. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1971;91:305-322.
2Hsu CT, Kerrison JB, Miller NR, Goldberg MF. Choroidal infarction, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and central retinal artery occlusion from polyarteritis nodosa. Retina 2001;21:348-51.
3Hayreh SS, Baines JA. Occlusion of the posterior ciliary artery II. Chorio-retinal lesions. Br J Ophthalmol 1972;56:736-53.
4Hayreh SS. Posterior Ciliary Artery Circulation in Health and Disease: The Weisenfeld Lecture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004;45:749-57.