title: Anterior segment neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy: a masquerade.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anterior segment neovascularization (ASNV) could be a masquerade for ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) in diabetic patients which misleads diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of our study is to find the relationship between blood flow velocity in carotid siphon and the development of ASNV in diabetic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 34 eyes of 17 diabetic patients who had Transcranial Color Doppler (TCD) examination with unilateral ASNV. The circulatory parameters of both eyes of each patient were compared and analyzed. In addition, 9 patients with more than 50% stenosis of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and low velocity flow through TCD had been treated by carotid revascularization surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximal velocity in systole (Vmax) of carotid siphon (SCA) was lower in the eyes with ASNV than in the eyes without ASNV (P<0.05). ASNV of all the 9 patients regressed totally and BCVA improved significantly (P<0.05). Stenosis of ICA and arm-retina time (ART) decreased significantly (P<0.01) and SCA and ophthalmic artery (OA) increased significantly (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed ASNV could be a masquerade for OIS in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The decreased blood flow velocity in carotid siphon is related to the development of ASNV. Circulatory parameters screening of SCA by TCD is important to help us to evaluate the blood flow in SCA, the possibility of development of ASNV, and the prognosis of the patient. Interference such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) can be performed if necessary to improve the blood flow in SCA and make ASNV regression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Mingwei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Vision Loss and Restoration, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Retinal and Choroid Diseases, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology