Bilateral retinal artery occlusion as the initial presentation of infectious endocarditis: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Retinal artery occlusion due to infective endocarditis is rare, and only a few cases have been reported in literature. Systematic and comprehensive studies of patients with this ophthalmological disease may help uncover serious underlying medical conditions.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of an 80-year-old Brazilian woman with bilateral retinal artery occlusion as the initial presentation of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis.

CONCLUSION

Infective endocarditis has many different forms of presentation and a high clinical suspicion is often required to reach a diagnosis. This case report highlights the importance of remembering retinal artery occlusion as a complication of infective endocarditis even if concurrent cardiovascular risk factors are present.