title: Iris neovascular tufts. Relationship to rubeosis, insulin, and hypotony.
abstract: Iris neovascular tufts are abnormal proliferations of twisted microcapillary loops that project from the iris pupillary border. They appear to be a morphologic variant of rubeosis iridis. This study searched for iris neovascular tufts by biomicroscopy and iris fluorescein angiography. They were found in two of 16 (12.5%) myotonic dystrophy patients, in two of 30 (6.7%) maturity-onset diabetics, and in zero of 14 (0%) juvenile-onset diabetics. Myotonic and adult-onset diabetics have in common pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, abnormally high serum insulin levels, and possibly defective hormone-receptor interactions. Whether these factors contribute to the altered blood-iris barrier and iris neovascular tufts in these groups is uncertain, but a correlation is suggested because the myotonic with the highest insulin level also had the most prominent tufts. Hyperinsulinemia and ocular hypotony are associated with neovascular tufts.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects; D007498:Iris / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000473:pathology; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011859:Radiography; D014603:Uveal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin