Bilateral Retinal Vasculitis with Arterial Aneurysms

Overview

The authors reported unusual and rare condition of bilateral retinal vasculitis primarily affecting the central retinal artery at the nerve head and its 4 main branches. The most striking feature was the presence of the diffuse vitreous cells, occlusion of branch retinal artery, segmental periarterial infiltration, arterial sheating, retinal arterial aneurysms, disc swelling, peripheral retinal non perfusion and their complications. During 13 year’s observation and treatment one eye went blind 3 years after initial examination. Second eye started the same clinical course two years after beginning of the disease. To avoid similar devastating course of the disease we started systemic steroids and immunosuppressive therapy, followed by photocoagulation of nonperfused peripheral retina and vitreoretinal surgery. We achieved stabilization of the disease with decreased visual functions. Comprehensive systemic work-up was unrevealing, no clear etiology was identified and diagnosis of idiopathic retinal vasculitis was made.

Key words:
idiopathic retinal vasculitis, fluorescein angiography, photocoagulation, systemic steroids and immunosuppressive therapy, vitreoretinal surgery