[Ophthalmological aspects of systemic vasculitis].
Ocular findings of systemic vasculitis, such as polyarteritis nodosa, giant cell angitis, and aortitis syndrome were reviewed. Systemic lupus erythematosus is not categorized as systemic vasculitis, however its ocular findings are microangiopathic. Therefore review of its ocular findings was included in this paper. The most common fundus finding in these diseases is ischemic optic neuropathy or retinal vascular occlusions. Therefore several points in diagnosis or pathogenesis of optic neuropathy and retinal and choroidal vaso occlusion were discussed. Choroidal ischemia has come to be able to diagnosed clinically, since fluorescein angiography was applied in these lesions. When choroidal arteries are occluded, overlying retinal pigment epithelium is damaged. This causes disruption of barrier function of the epithelium and allows fluid from choroidal vasculatures to pass into subsensory retinal spaces. This is a pathogenesis of serous detachment of the retina. The retinal arterial occlusion formed non-perfused retina. Such hypoxic retina released angiogenetic factors which stimulate retinal and iris neovascularizations and iris neovascularization may cause neovascular glaucoma.
Matsui
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Surugadai Hospital of Nihon University.
D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology