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

Retinal arterial macroaneurysm rupture by Valsalva maneuver: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Retinal artery macroaneurysms (RAMs) are focal dilations of the large retinal arteries. Most RAMs are asymptomatic, however, when hemorrhage or exudation caused by a RAM involves the macula, patients can experience marked vision loss. This article reported a rare case of a ruptured RAM due to the Valsalva maneuver in an elderly female with constipation and offered a review of the relevant literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 78-year-old woman with several risk factors presented with multi-level retinal hemorrhages following a Valsalva maneuver during constipation. Due to the poor coagulation and heavy bleeding in this case, the blood broke through the internal limiting membrane and drained "on its own" into the vitreous cavity. First, we observed the patient and controlled for her risk factors. After the blood was completely drained into the vitreous cavity, the root cause of the bleeding was found to be a RAM rupture. After laser photocoagulation, the patient's vision recovered significantly and remained stable for a long time despite the presence of an epiretinal membrane and a lamellar macular hole.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first reported case of a RAM rupture by Valsalva maneuver during constipation. For multi-level hemorrhages caused by RAM, measures should be taken to drain out the sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhage and simultaneously control for risk factors. After the RAM is exposed, laser photocoagulation can be performed.

Outcomes of combined treatments in patients with retinal arterial macroaneurysm

Purpose:

To evaluate the outcome of the combined approach between intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and focal laser photocoagulation (FLP) in the treatment of symptomatic retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM).

Methods:

A total of 10 patients were included in this clinical case series report. They were diagnosed with symptomatic RAM (one eye in each) and assessed by a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, including fluorescein angiography (FA), optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). All patients were treated with an IVR followed by an FLP 2 weeks later. If necessary, a second IVR was given 1 month after the first one (or 2 weeks after the first FLP), which was followed by a second FLP treatment 2 weeks later in the needed cases. All cases were followed up for 6 months after the last treatment.

Results:

Both the retina hemorrhage and edema were resolved by the treatment. No ocular and/or systemic side effects were evident, and no recrudescence of RAM was seen within the 6 months of follow-up.

Conclusion:

The combined treatment of IVRs and FLPs was successful in the management of symptomatic RAM.

Different approaches in the management of macular hemorrhage: Case reports and a literature review

Introduction

Macular hemorrhages result in a sudden and profound loss of vision. The primary treatment modalities include observation, intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic drugs, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet hialoidotomy, intravitreal injection of gas with or without tissue plasminogen activator, as monotherapy or combined with surgery. In this paper, we report four cases of macular hemorrhages of different causes treated with different approaches, and we review the literature in this regard.

Case presentation

All four patients presented different causes of macular hemorrhage. The first case had a preretinal hemorrhage due to a Valsalva retinopathy and was treated with surgery. Case 2 had a multilevel macular hemorrhage due to a rupture of a retinal arteriolar macroaneurysm and was treated with pneumatic displacement, laser, and intravitreal ranibizumab. Case 3 presented an extensive subretinal hemorrhage due to a choroidal rupture after high-energy ocular trauma that was also successfully treated with surgery. The last case was a preretinal hemorrhage due to diabetic retinopathy managed with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser. Different treatment approaches were successfully performed in all cases with good outcomes.

Conclusion

There is an extensive range of options available for the management of macular hemorrhages, and the best option depends on the characteristics of each particular case. Proper and timely management of these diseases can achieve an excellent visual outcome, especially if the location of the hemorrhage is preretinal.

The hypertension of hemophilia is associated with vascular remodeling in the joint

OBJECTIVE

Hemophilic arthropathy is associated with pronounced vascular joint remodeling. Also, compared to the general population, PWH have a higher prevalence of hypertension not explained by usual risk factors. As vascular remodeling in various vascular beds is a hallmark of hypertension, we hypothesized that vascular joint remodeling is associated with elevated blood pressures and hypertension.

METHODS

Elbows, knees, and ankles of 28 adult PWH were evaluated for vascular abnormalities with MSKUS/PD, as well as for radiographic and clinical status and pain. Logistic and linear regression models were fitted to examine associations between hypertension, blood pressure, and PD score.

RESULTS

The extent of vascular abnormalities was associated with hypertension and blood pressures. Hypertensive patients had a higher PD score compared to nonhypertensive patients, and the risk of hypertension increased steeply with PD score. SBP was also strongly associated with PD score, while DBP was only weakly associated.

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular remodeling in hemophilic joints is associated with hypertension and elevated blood pressures. As hypertension is a grave risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, a prominent cause of mortality in hemophilia patients, future studies are needed to address the causal pathways between vascular joint remodeling and blood pressure.

Foveal Exudative Macroaneurysm Treated with Intravitreal Ranibizumab

PURPOSE

We report a case of a foveal macroaneurysm with long-standing macular edema in a rare location, successfully treated with intravitreal ranibizumab.

METHODS

We report the case of a 52-year-old man with left eye long-term visual loss due to macular edema caused by a retinal macroaneurysm, localized about 400 μm from the center of the fovea, and its response to 6 monthly ranibizumab intravitreal injections. His best-corrected visual acuity and morphological data evaluated by optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography are presented.

RESULTS

His best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1/10 to 3/10 after the 3rd injection, and from 1/10 to 4/10 after the 6th one. The central retinal thickness was evaluated by optical coherence tomography and improved from 310 to 233 μm, with the resolution of both the associated serous detachments and the cystoid macular edema; an almost complete reabsorption of the hard exudates at the end of the treatment was also observed. The macroaneurysm lumen almost obliterated after the 3rd injection and completely collapsed at the end of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravitreal ranibizumab may be effective in the treatment of long-standing macular edema associated with foveal macroaneurysms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a retinal macroaneurysm located so close to the foveal avascular zone.