Retinal Arteriolar Changes in a Patient with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

The isolated abnormal arterial tortuosity in a 65 year old male patient with the branch retinal vein occlusion was found in non-perfusion area near the macular region. The arterial tortuosity anastomosed with the vein across the median raphe. It was what is called the the arteriovenous anastomosis. The author deduced the pathogenesis of the arterial tortuosity in arteriovenous anastomosis as following. The sclerosis of the arterial branch occurs in the severe ischemic state in the non-perfusion area following the branch retinal vein occlusion. The arterial blood easily have to flow to the unoccluded vein through only one or a few collateral channel(s). Such a arterial flow need the reduction of arterial pressure and the pathologic changes of the artery. As a result, the artery have to reduce the radius and to increase the length.