Retinal Vasculopathy in Inflammatory Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: A Case Report of Peripheral Marker of Treatment Response

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Authors: Ludovica Gargiulo, Francesco Cutrupi, Esoin F., Lisa Melzi, Benedetta Storti, Nicola Rifino, Anna Bersano, Stefania Bianchi Marzoli
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Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA-ri) is a rare immune response to vascular amyloid-β. Ocular involvement is exceptional, and the retina may represent an accessible biomarker of disease activity. Case Presentation: A 67-year-old woman with probable CAA-ri developed recurrent floaters and transient visual obscurations during steroid tapering, with bilateral optic disc edema and peripapillary hemorrhages. Multimodal retinal imaging supported an inflammatory hemorrhagic retinal arteriolar microangiopathy (normal CSF opening pressure; TREX1 negative). Retinal findings resolved after intensified immunosuppression (steroids plus mycophenolate), recurred during tapering, and resolved again after switching to cyclophosphamide with steroid escalation; brain MRI remained largely unchanged and brain biopsy later confirmed inflammatory CAA. Conclusion: Multimodal retinal imaging may provide a dynamic, sensitive peripheral biomarker to monitor disease activity and treatment response in CAA-ri, even when cerebral MRI appears stable.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome Vasculitis and related conditions

Publication details

Journal / source
Case Reports in Ophthalmology
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
254–262
Publication date
3 February 2026
Language
EN