phytoestrogens and Retinal-Vein-Occlusion

A 55 year old woman, known to have systemic lupus erythematosus and protein S deficiency, presented with sudden onset of visual loss in the left eye. Three days previously, she took a herbal phytoestrogen preparation for relief of her menopausal symptoms. Ophthalmological assessment showed a left inferior hemiretinal vein thrombosis. The temporal relation between the onset of visual symptoms and ingestion of this herbal preparation suggested that in this patient with a prior non-manifest prothrombotic tendency, there may be an association between the development of retinal vein thrombosis and herbal phytoestrogen use.

Topics: Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Menopause; Middle Aged; Phytoestrogens; Plant Preparations; Protein S Deficiency; Retinal Vein Occlusion