[Diagnostic and treatment options for retinal arterial macroaneurysms in relation to our cases]

In our report, we present the history of four patients diagnosed with retinal arterial macroaneurysm associated with complications. Our aim is to present the varied appearance of the disease and to present the various therapeutic options. Retinal artery macroaneurysm is a rare, but potentially vision-threatening ophthalmic condition. Macroaneurysm develops from the arteriosclerotic transformation of the artery caused by high blood pressure. Macroaneurysms can be asymptomatic, or they can be associated with exudative or hemorrhagic complication which causes visual impairment. Depending on the symptoms, they can be treated with laser photocoagulation, intravitreal injections, or with vitrectomy. Our presented cases also illustrate that each case requires individual consideration because a uniform therapeutic recommendation is still yet to be developed. In addition to the ophthalmic treatment, it is extremely important to refer the patient to internal medicine. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(42): 1673-1677.

Coats' Disease Diagnosed During Adulthood

Coats' disease is an idiopathic non-hereditary condition first described by Coats in 1908 as a congenital retinal telangiectatic and aneurysmal disease associated with retinal exudation. Its presentation is classically in early childhood. We report a rare case of Coats' disease that first presented during adulthood in a 35-year-old male. The patient presented with visual loss in the left eye for two months. His visual acuity was counting fingers in the left eye and fundus examination revealed extensive lipid exudation in the macula with telangiectatic vessels and microaneurysms with vascular malformation in the inferotemporal quadrant. Fluorescein angiography showed leakage from the telangiectatic vessels, and optic coherence tomography showed significant macular edema. A provisional diagnosis of adult-onset Coats’ disease was made. The patient responded well to intravitreal ranibizumab injections for macular edema and sectoral argon laser photocoagulation for peripheral vascular abnormalities. This case is unusual in adulthood onset and the first presentation was during adulthood in the third decade of life in contrast to the typical age of onset which is younger than five years.

Optical coherence tomography angiography of fleeting macroaneurysm in retinal racemose angioma

We present a rare case of retinal racemose angioma complicated with fleeting macroaneurysm (MA). A 50-year-old female presented with diminution of vision in her right eye for 6 years. Fundus examination showed a racemose angioma with hemorrhagic MA temporal to the fovea in the right eye. On subsequent follow-ups, spontaneous thrombosis of MA was noted with the development of new MA inferior to the fovea, with intraretinal hemorrhage extending into the fovea. Focal laser to MA resulted in resolution of MA with improvement in vision. We report optical coherence tomography angiographic features of the fleeting MA in a case of racemose angioma.

Multi-layered haemorrhage secondary to retinal arterial macroaneurysm: a case report and review

Retinal macroaneurysms are an acquired vascular anomaly primarily associated with advancing age and hypertension. Although a rare pathology, it is not uncommon for a patient with a macroaneurysm to present to the primary care optometrist. Macroaneurysms have various presentations and they constitute one of the few clinical entities that can produce preretinal, intraretinal, subretinal or vitreal haemorrhage or any combination thereof. A review of the pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and newest treatments will be provided. A 68-year-old Caucasian male patient with a history of a previously treated retinal macroaneurysm presented to the eye clinic with acute-onset visual loss in the same eye. The patient had a known diagnosis of hypertension and had been untreated by his primary care physician for one year. Dilated fundus examination revealed extensive multi-layered haemorrhaging along with significant macular oedema. A choroidal neovascular membrane was ruled out with fluorescein angiography. The patient was treated with monthly bevacizumab injections over a period of three months. At six months optical coherence tomography confirmed the resolution of macular oedema and the patient achieved a marked improvement in his visual acuity. Retinal arterial macroaneurysm is one of the few clinical entities with the potential to produce any combination of preretinal, intraretinal, subretinal and/or vitreal haemorrhage. When the macula is threatened, treatment must be pursued. Although laser treatment has traditionally been used, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has been used with promising visual outcomes.

Retinal arterial macroaneurysms

Retinal arterial macroaneurysms are acquired saccular or fusiform dilatations of the large arterioles of the retina, usually within the first three orders of bifurcation. They are associated with systemic vascular conditions such as hypertension and arteriosclerotic disease occurring most commonly in elderly women. The primary reported symptom is a sudden loss of vision due to haemorrhage or oedema affecting the macula. Most of macroaneurysms regress without treatment and without causing decreased visual acuity. Poor visual outcome may occur secondary to foveal exudates and subfoveal haemorrhage.