Retinal vascular occlusion in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2005

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of retinal vascular occlusions (macrovasculopathy) and the proportion of affected patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all HIV-infected individuals with retinal vascular occlusions seen at a single tertiary care clinic between November 1983 and May 1998.

RESULTS: Retinal vascular occlusion was found in 38 eyes of 33 (1.3%) of the 2,484 consecutive patients examined. Of the 33 patients, 16 (48.5%) had central retinal vein occlusion, 9 (27.3%) had branch retinal vein occlusion, 4 (12.1%) had hemiretinal vein occlusion, and 1 each (3.0%) had central retinal arterial occlusion, branch retinal arterial occlusion, and combined hemiretinal vein occlusion and branch retinal artery occlusion. One patient (3.0%) had Purtscher-like retinopathy in one eye. Multiple regression analysis revealed that macrovasculopathy was associated with the presence of noninfectious retinal microvasculopathy (odds ratio, 5.76; 95% confidence interval, 2.59-12.80). Vision at the time of diagnosis ranged between 20/20 and no light perception. Twenty-five (75.8%) of the 33 patients had follow-up examinations for a mean period of 9.1 months. Ocular findings during follow-up included capillary dropout in 3 patients (11.5%), posterior pole neovascularization in 4 (15.4%), vitreous hemorrhage in 4 (15.4%), and optic atrophy in 6 (23.1%). Vision at the last eye examination ranged between 20/20 and no light perception and was 20/200 or worse in 15 (39.5%) of 38 eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HIV infection have a small risk of retinal vascular occlusion, but complications and visual loss are common in affected patients. There is a strong association between noninfectious retinal microvasculopathy and retinal vein occlusions.

Volume

25

Issue

6

First Page

759

Last Page

766

ISSN

0275-004X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

16141865

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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