Cortical blindness and Anton syndrome in a patient with obstetric hemorrhage

Background: Cortical blindness is characterized by loss of vision in the presence of intact anterior visual pathways. Anton syndrome, a form of anosognosia, is a rare complication of cortical blindness involving compromise of the visual association centers, with resulting patient denial of blindness. Both syndromes have been associated with computed tomography findings of localized cortical ischemia. In most cases, both the clinical and radiologic features are reversible. Case: A woman with hemorrhage from an incomplete abortion at 21 weeks experienced cortical blindness and visual anosognosia. Conclusion: Cortical blindness and anosognosia are unusual manifestations of severe hemorrhage but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with atypical visual symptoms. (C) 1998 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.