Occlusions of branch retinal arterioles following amniotic fluid embolism

Amniotic fluid embolism is a serious complication of pregnancy with a high mortality. We present a 28-year-old healthy woman who underwent dilatation and curettage for an elective abortion, followed by the sudden loss of visi on in her left eye. Occlusion of one branch retinal arteriole was the initi al finding of her left fundus, and two occlusions developed consecutively o n the color fundus photographs, Fluorescein angiography demonstrated occlus ions in three retinal arterioles among seven retinal arterioles originating from the optic disc. These findings suggest that possible mechanisms of am niotic fluid embolism are the unusual cause in retinal arteriolar occlusion s, Here clinical course and ophthalmic findings are reviewed, and the relat ionship between amniotic fluid embolism and retinal arteriolar occlusions i s discussed, Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.