1/3. Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated retinal vasculitis in children.PURPOSE: To describe predominant retinal vasculitis in children carrying human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). methods: The authors examined clinical records of patients with HTLV-1-associated uveitis between 1987 and 2001 in Kagoshima University Hospital and reviewed cases of extensive, smoldering retinal vasculitis. RESULTS: Three previously healthy teenagers noted mild visual symptoms and presented with extensive sheathing of retinal vessels, complicated by mild anterior segment inflammation. The retinal vascular disease responded poorly to systemic corticosteroids, had a smoldering course with persistent sheathing of retinal vessels, and eventually resulted in diffuse chorioretinal degeneration. Results of laboratory studies were unremarkable except for the presence of serum antibodies to HTLV-1. One patient developed HTLV-1-associated myelopathy 11 years after the onset of ocular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The retinal vasculitis differed from the retinal vascular changes commonly seen in HTLV-1-associated uveitis. The authors suggest a clinical disease HTLV-1-associated retinal vasculitis that affects young HTLV-1 carriers, characterized by smoldering retinal vasculitis with ultimate retinal degeneration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/3. retinal vasculitis due to secondary syphilis.BACKGROUND: retinal vasculitis is one of the manifestations of ocular syphilis. CASE: A 29-year-old man was referred to our hospital with the complaint of sudden visual loss in the left eye lasting more than three weeks. OBSERVATIONS: Ophthalmoscopic examination showed retinal hemorrhages, edema, and sheathing of large retinal arteries and veins. fluorescein angiography revealed extensive occlusion of the affected retinal arteries, veins, and capillaries. Little evidence of uveitis or vitritis was observed. The fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption test was positive, and the treponema pallidum hemagglutination titer was 1:10,240. The treatment with penicillin was effective, leading to resolution of the retinal hemorrhages and edema, although occlusion of the retinal vessels persisted. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular occlusion occurred simultaneously in large retinal arteries, arterioles, and capillaries as well as in segments of retinal veins, resulting in irreversible changes in the vascular walls.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/3. ANCA associated pauci-immune retinal vasculitis.BACKGROUND: Antinuclear cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are useful diagnostic serological markers for the most common forms of necrotising vasculitis. ANCA associated vasculitides represent distinctive clinicopathological categories--for example, Wegener's granulomatosis, churg-strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis, and idiopathic necrotising crescentic glomerulonephritis, collectively known as the small vessel pauci-immune vasculitides. METHOD: Three cases of ANCA associated pauci-immune retinal vasculitis are described. Their systemic features are described and the clinical significance of ANCA as a diagnostic test in relation to retinal vasculitis discussed. RESULTS: These three cases represent a spectrum of clinical features associated with retinal vasculitis. Two cases have evolved into clinical recognisable entities as microscopic polyangiitis. Adherence to the international consensus statement on testing and reporting of ANCA is recommended and the authors speculate that the incidence of microscopic polyangiitis may be underestimated because of the under-recognition of systemic involvement in patients with retinal vasculitis. CONCLUSION: The receipt of a positive ANCA result should always raise the suspicion of a pauci-immune systemic vasculitis and prompt appropriate investigation. The authors emphasise the importance of the evaluation of systemic features in these patients with retinal vasculitis, enabling earlier recognition and thereby preventing significant morbidity and mortality.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |