Vitreous Hemorrhage after Aneurismal Rupture: Terson Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction Terson syndrome is described as an intraocular hemorrhage consequent to a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH). In the present article, we describe cases of patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysm at our institution over a period of one year, and who were diagnosed with Terson syndrome.

Methods The present study included patients with a diagnosis of SSAH by rupture of a cerebral aneurysm who underwent treatment in our neurosurgical service from December 2009 to December 2010. The patients were followed-up for a minimum of 20 months. We have also performed a literature review and compared the data with those available in the current literature.

Results The present study included 34 patients, 18 (53%) of which underwent endovascular treatment, and 16 (47%) who underwent microsurgical clipping. In the sample, the mortality was 14.7% (5 patients), the same percentage of patients who were diagnosed with Terson Syndrome, which is an incidence of 14.7%. Regarding the ophthalmologic evaluation, all patients had vitreous hemorrhage detected by an ultrasound examination, which was unilateral in only two patients. Visual acuity improved in all patients, being incomplete in only one of them.

Conclusion Terson syndrome is relatively common and is associated with higher mortality. With the existence of an effective treatment, it should be investigated in all patients with SSAH.

Keywords

vitreous hemorrhage - cerebral aneurysm - subarachnoid hemorrhage - vitrectomy

Introduction

Terson syndrome (TS) was first described by Albert Terson in 1900 as an intraocular hemorrhage resulting from a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH).[1] [2] This complication presents a variable incidence, with a generally benign course, but associated with a greater morbidity and mortality when compared to patients who do not present the syndrome.[1] In the present article, we describe in this article cases of patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment for ruptured brain aneurysms who were diagnosed with TS.

Methods

Patients with a diagnosis of SSAH due to rupture of a cerebral aneurysm who were submitted to treatment at our neurosurgery service from December 2009 to December 2010 were included in the present study. The treatments were performed by intracranial vascular microsurgery or endovascularly, with endovascular embolization of the aneurysms. The medical records of these patients were reviewed, and an ophthalmological evaluation was performed on all the patients who spontaneously presented complaints of visual alterations.

The patients who received the diagnosis of TS after an ophthalmologic evaluation had their evolution described. In this evaluation, visual acuity tests, fundoscopy and orbit ultrasonography were performed. We have also included the characterization of the neurological picture, as well as the findings of the imaging tests. The patients were followed-up for a minimum period of 20 months. We have also reviewed the literature and compared the data obtained with those available in the current literature.

Results

A total of 34 patients diagnosed with SSAH due to cerebral aneurysm rupture were included in the present study. Of these, 18 (53%) were submitted to endovascular treatment, and 16 (47%) were submitted to microsurgical clipping. The total mortality rate was 14.7% (5 patients).

Of the 34 patients, 5 were diagnosed with TS, representing an incidence of 14.7%. The mean age of the TS patients was 47 years. Regarding the neurological evaluation of these patients, we have observed that 3 (60%) out of the 5 presented rupture of aneurysms of the anterior communicating complex. Most of the patients presented SSAH classified as Fisher 3, being neurologically classified as Hunt and Hess 2 ([Fig. 1A] [1B]). In addition, 4 (80%) out of these 5 patients had multiple aneurysms.

Fig. 1 (A) Computed tomography of the skull of patient 2 demonstrating diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage, classified as Fisher 3. (B) Right carotid angiography of patient 2 demonstrating saccular aneurysm in the anterior communicating complex and vasospasm. (C) Ocular ultrasonography of patient 2 demonstrating vitreous hemorrhage.

In all patients, regarding the ophthalmologic evaluation, an ocular ultrasonography detected vitreous hemorrhage ([Fig. 1C]), which was unilateral in only two patients. Three patients underwent vitrectomy, and two received conservative treatment. The onset of the TS ranged from 7 to 17 days after the ictus. We have also observed that all patients had systemic arterial hypertension as a comorbidity.

In all patients, there was improvement of visual acuity, which was incomplete in only one of them. This corresponds to the final impairment of vision in one eye, of the eight initially affected. Data for each patient are shown in [Tables 1] and [2].

Table 1

Patient	Age	Location of ruptured aneurysm	Location of other aneurysms	Affected eye	Fisher scale	Hunt and Hess scale
1	38	ACoA	ICA and MCA L	Bilateral	3	2
2	41	ACoA	ICA R	Bilateral	3	2
3	50	ACoA	ICA R	Right	3	2
4	58	ACA R	−	Right	2	3
5	48	ChA R	OftA R	Bilateral	2	2

Table 2

Patient	Type of treatment	Time between SSAH and TS (days)	Visual acuity before TS treatment	Visual acuity after TS treatment
1	Conservative	11	HM-HM	1–1
2	Vit BE	7	HM-HM	1–1
3	Conservative	17	HM	1
4	Vit RE	17	HM	0.15
5	Vit BE	10	HM-HM	1–1

Discussion

Terson syndrome corresponds to a vitreous hemorrhage associated with SSAH.[1] Albert Terson was a French ophthalmologist who described the clinical signs of this syndrome in a patient with SSAH in 1900.[2] Since then, some type of intraocular hemorrhage (retinal, subhyaloid or vitreous) has been documented in 10% to 40% of the individuals with SSAH,[3] [4] while vitreous hemorrhage is reported in 3% to 5% of cases of SSAH.[4] This neurophthalmological alteration can occur from 1 hour to 47 days after the ictus.[5] Among our cases, there was a variation between 7 and 17 days for the onset of the syndrome. In the literature, there is no significant difference in the incidence of the syndrome between men and women.[6] However, in the present study, 80% of the patients were female.

Vitreous hemorrhage is believed to be caused by two major mechanisms. The first would be the increased intracranial pressure, which forces blood into the subarachnoid space and along the optic nerve sheath. In this way, blood would enter the sclera through a porous region and from there, into the vitreous space.[7] The other explanation would be the obstruction of the venous drainage to the cavernous sinus by the increase in intracranial pressure, which would cause blood stasis and intraocular hemorrhage.[5] [8] [9] However, this second hypothesis is disproven, since other conditions leading to increased intracranial pressure, or even pressure in the cavernous sinus, do not usually result in intraocular hemorrhage.

A systematic review study by McCarron et al.[1] found that the incidence of TS in patients with SSAH ranged from 3% in retrospective studies to 13% in prospective studies. A series of 174 SSAH patients showed that TS was significantly more common among patients in more severe conditions (Glasgow coma scale < 8 or Hunt Hess > 3), who presented more severe intracranial hemorrhages (Fisher > 3).[5] In the present study, we have found a TS incidence of 14.7%, which is in accordance with the data available in the literature. However, the data found in the present study are probably underestimated, since only symptomatic patients with a good neurological evolution were included.

In a prospective study by Garfinkle et al[4] with 22 patients with SSAH, 4 (66.6%) of the 6 patients with TS had an aneurysm located in the anterior communicating complex, and only 1 patient had multiple aneurysms. In another prospective study with 60 patients with SSAH, 10 had TS.[5] Among the patients in this study, 30% had an anterior cerebral artery aneurysm and 20% had an internal carotid artery aneurysm. In the present study, 60% of the patients had a ruptured aneurysm located in the anterior communicating complex. Moreover, curiously and without similarities in the literature, 80% of the patients in the present study had multiple aneurysms.

Some authors suggest that the size and number of intraocular bleeds are clinically relevant,[10] as well as the relationship between the location of the intracranial hemorrhage and the unilateral or bilateral involvement of the eyes,[11] and even the type of intraocular hemorrhage and mortality.[12]

In the aforementioned systematic review,[1] the mortality of patients with TS was 4.8 times higher than that of patients without the syndrome (43% and 9% respectively), whereas Shaw and Landers[13] concluded that the mortality among patients with the syndrome is only 2 times higher. We could not infer whether there is an increase in mortality, since our study group consists of successfully treated patients who have achieved a good neurological recovery and therefore does not include TS patients who have died.

The treatment of choice for TS is generally conservative, with improvement of visual acuity and complete resolution of the deficit within 6 months.[5] However, in rare cases, proliferative retinopathy, retinal detachment or cataract may occur.[5] Surgical intervention is reserved for cases in which there is no visual improvement after 6 months of the onset of the symptoms,[5] [14] with vitrectomy being the procedure of choice.[15] This procedure, however, may be associated with complications such as: retinal damage, retinal detachment, cataract, endophthalmitis, and recurrence of retinal hemorrhage.[5] Nevertheless, after a successful vitrectomy, it is expected that most patients will show complete improvement of visual acuity,[16] which was observed in our patients.

In the present study, 3 (60%) out of the 5 patients required ophthalmologic surgery (vitrectomy). Only one of the eight affected eyes did not achieve complete recovery of vision after treatment, whether conservative or surgical. Considering only the eyes submitted to vitrectomy, 4 out of 5 (80%) had reversal of symptoms, with final acuity of 1. This represents a result compatible with the literature. In a retrospective study by Garweg et al,[17] 59.1% of the patients with TS presented a visual acuity better than 0.8 after treatment with vitrectomy.

Conclusion

Terson syndrome is relatively frequent among patients with SSAH, and the usual clinical manifestation is reduced visual acuity. The diagnosis of TS should be early, considering its association with poor prognosis, and the reversibility of the ophthalmologic condition through surgical or even conservative management.

• References

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