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Reversible Vision Loss With Pituitary Microadenoma Following PRP Injection for Hair Growth: A Rare Case Report and a Mini‐Review of the Literature

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) therapy, while widely utilized for its favorable safety profile, carries a recognized risk of catastrophic, irreversible vision loss, traditionally attributed to iatrogenic vascular embolization following facial injections. We present the first documented case of reversible , subacute vision loss following PRP injections to the scalp , a finding that fundamentally challenges this established paradigm. A 22‐year‐old female presented with unilateral central scotomas one month post‐treatment, with investigations revealing macular edema and an incidental, non‐compressive pituitary microadenoma. In contrast to direct embolic occlusion, we postulate a novel pathophysiological mechanism: a systemic surge of PRP‐derived growth factors (e.g., VEGF, PDGF) triggered a transient, steroid‐responsive inflammatory or microvascular event in a pre‐sensitized neurovascular environment. The patient achieved complete visual recovery following high‐dose corticosteroid therapy, supporting an inflammatory etiology. This case serves as an unequivocal clinical directive that the risk of severe ocular complications from PRP is not confined to facial injections and can manifest systemically. It is imperative that the paradigm of PRP‐related risk be expanded and informed consent protocols revised to reflect the potential for inflammatory and microvascular sequelae, irrespective of the injection site.

Source: Clinical Case Reports

DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.71191