White-centered retinal hemorrhages as an early sign of preeclampsia.

PURPOSE/METHOD: We examined a pregnant patient who had symptomatic white-centered retinal hemorrhages. Severe preeclampsia rapidly developed despite the patient not having hypertension, proteinuria, or edema at initial examination.

RESULTS/

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal hemorrhages gradually resolved without treatment and visual acuity returned to 20/20 six months after emergency delivery of a healthy infant. Retinal or choroidal vascular abnormalities in pregnant patients may be caused by early preeclampsia and immediate obstetric referral is indicated.