title: [Pericorneal vascular changes as an expression of systemic vascular processes].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the extent of morphological changes of the perilimbal vessels of the conjunctiva in patients with general vascular disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  With a questionnaire systemic vessel diseases were investigated in 285 patients (m:f = 145:140; mean age = 54 +/- 19 years) with pericorneal vessel alterations. Persons without any morphological alteration of the perilimbal vessels served as control group (n = 58; m:w = 44:14; mean age 26 +/- 13 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the patient group we found the following pericorneal vessel alterations: vessel ectasia in 79%, vessel aneurysm in 41%, vessel interruptions in 37% and avascular regions in 12%. The distribution of the three most frequent systemic vascular processes in the patient/control group was: peripheral vascular spasm (cold hands and/or feet) in 57%/19%, migraine in 39%/14% and arterial hypertension in 33%/3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alterations in perilimbal vessels seem to be correlated with systemic vascular disorders. In case of perilimbal vascular anomalies an internal medical examination should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung I, Universitäts-Augenklinik Tübingen.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stübiger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erb
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*