Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Rabb.
Five patients had macroaneurysms of the retinal arterioles. These macroaneurysms may be observed without pathologic sequelae or may be associated with circinate retinopathy, intraretinal hemorrhage, subretinal hemorrhage, or intravitreal hemorrhage. They may also evolve into more widespread vascular anomalies resembling adult Coats disease in some respects. Photocoagulation therapy is occasionally indicated.
Two patients developed Mooren's ulcer following cataract extraction. The first case was complicated by ocular trauma 8 years prior to surgery and by vitreous loss at the time of surgery. The second patient underwent cataract extraction without complication. Surgical trauma may have been the inciting factor in the development of these ulcers. Both patients experienced dramatic relief of ocular pain following the application of hydrophilic lenses. There was no apparent alteration in the course of the disease in either case. The use of hydrophilic soft lenses is suggested for symptomatic relief of the severe ocular pain experienced by patients with Mooren's ulcer.
Of 45 patients with proliferative sickle retinopathy in stages III, IV, and V, nine patients (eight with hemoglobin SC disease, one with sickle cell thalassemia) showed spontaneous regression (autoinfarction) of retinal sea fans. One mechanism involved in autoinfarction of neovascular tissue is progressive, centripetal retraction of the anterior vascular arcade of the peripheral retina. In addition, vitreous traction on feeder vessels may result in sluggish blood flow and occlusion of these vessels, or may tear the sea fan completely away from its feeder vessels. In view of the many incidences of vitreous hemorrhages that occur in patients with proliferative retinopathy, however, we recommend treatment of neovascularization rather than prolonged observation.
In a prospective study of 38 patients, who were initially selected as being at an early stage of sickling retinopathy, three developed circular black chorio-retinal scars (black sunbursts) during a period of 6 to 24 months. These lesions appear to be the sequelae of intraretinal and subretinal haemorrhage. They occur in the fundus periphery and do not interfere with vision.