A clinical approach to the diagnosis of retinal vasculitis

Abstract

Retinal vasculitis is a sight-threatening inflammatory eye condition that involves the retinal vessels. Detection of retinal vasculitis is made clinically, and is confirmed with the help of fundus fluorescein angiography. Active vascular disease is characterized by exudates around retinal vessels resulting in white sheathing or cuffing of the affected vessels. In this review, a practical approach to the diagnosis of retinal vasculitis is discussed based on ophthalmoscopic and fundus fluorescein angiographic findings.

Lupus Relapse Presented as Frosted Branch Retinal Angiitis: Case Report

“…The fluorescent treponemal antibody test, chest radiography film imaging, tuberculine skin test, Lyme disease serology, HIV antibody determination, complete blood counts, and magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to exclude syphilis, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, HIV, leukemia, and multiple sclerosis, respectively. 10,11 The SLE relapse as frosted branch retinal angiitis that is described here is a notably uncommon presentation. On the other hand, it might be possible that this case is the result of a slow-evolving uncontrolled systemic disease.…”

Bilateral retinal vasculitis in a patient with lichen planus

“…An isolated ocular form of LP has also been reported, and biopsy and immunofluorescence studies may be required to enable differentiation of this form from keratoconjunctivitis, which can also cause conjunctival scarring (1) . Many inflammatory and infectious agents are included in the etiology of retinal vasculitis, and a proper diagnostic work-up should be performed in these patients (2,(4)(5)(6) . However, in certain cases, no etiologic reason can be identified, a condition described as primary retinal vasculitis (4) .…”

“…Behcet's disease, sarcoidosis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Wegener's granulomatosis are the most common systemic diseases that can cause retinal vasculitis. The most common infectious diseases include toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, syphilis, cat scratch disease, and herpes simplex and varicella zoster infections, whereas ocular diseases include intermediate uveitis, Birdshot choroidopathy, and Eales disease (2,5,6) . CD4+ T cell-dependent immunity is thought to play a main role in the pathogenesis of retinal vasculitis, but humoral immunity and immune complex formation may also be important (2) .…”

Occlusive retinal vasculitis secondary to Behçet’s disease

“…The criteria require recurrent oral ulcers plus two of the following: genital ulcers, ocular inflammation, skin lesions or positive pathergy test 1. Ocular symptoms often follow oral ulcers in the majority of cases 2. The posterior ocular manifestations, including vitritis, occlusive retinal vasculitis and macular oedema, often threaten the vision 3–5.…”