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Aberrant filling of the retinal vein on fluorescein angiography in branch and hemi-central retinal artery occlusion

Eye volume 37, pages 2659–2663 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To study aberrant filling of the retinal vessels on fluorescein angiography (FA) images in patients with branch (BRAO) or hemi-central retinal artery occlusions (hemi-CRAO) and correlate with associated changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

Cases of acute BRAO or hemi-CRAO having FA and OCT images at presentation between June 2017 to May 2022 were included. Comparisons were made between the cases with and without aberrant filling of the retinal vessel.

Results

Thirty-nine eyes of 39 patients with acute retinal artery occlusions underwent FA and OCT imaging. Seven of the ten cases with either BRAO or hemi-CRAO showed aberrant filling of the retinal vein on FA. No case with CRAO showed aberrant filling on FA. The cases with aberrant filling showed a better presenting visual acuity and lesser severity of retinal ischemia on OCT. Shunts between the retinal artery in the unaffected region and the retinal vein in the affected segment was seen in two eyes. The remaining five eyes showed no arteriovenous anastomosis. Cases with aberrant filling had a better visual function even at the last visit.

Conclusion

Aberrant retinal vein filling across the horizontal median raphe in the affected region in BRAO or hemi-CRAO eyes had less severity of retinal ischemia and better presenting and final visual acuities. Reduced perfusion in retinal capillaries with altered retinal vascular anatomy or arteriovenous shunts could be probable reasons for the development of this FA finding. Presence of aberrant filling of the retinal vein could indicate better final visual prognosis.

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Fig. 1: Case details and retinal imaging showing the aberrant filling of the retinal vein in retinal artery occlusion (case 5).
Fig. 2: Case details and retinal imaging showing the aberrant filling of the retinal vein in acute hemi-central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) (case 10).
Fig. 3: Normal retinal circulation.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Author notes

  1. Nikitha Gurram Reddy

    Present address: Anand Bajaj Retina Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500034, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Retina and Vitreous Narayana Nethralaya, #121/C, 1st R Block, Chord Road, Rajaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560010, India

    Ramesh Venkatesh, Shama Sharief, Chitturi Venkata Sai Prashanti, Nikitha Gurram Reddy, Rubble Mangla, Yash Parmar, Aaditi Anilkumar & Naresh Kumar Yadav

  2. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Medical Retina and Vitreoretinal Surgery, 203 Lothrop Street, Suite 800, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Jay Chhablani

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  1. Ramesh Venkatesh
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Contributions

RV, JC, and NGR: conceptualizing the study, data acquisition, analyzing the data, interpreting the findings, writing and reviewing the manuscript. SS, RM, YP, and AA: data acquisition, analyzing the data and reviewing the manuscript. NKY: analyzing the data, interpreting the findings, reviewing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ramesh Venkatesh.

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Venkatesh, R., Sharief, S., Prashanti, C.V.S. et al. Aberrant filling of the retinal vein on fluorescein angiography in branch and hemi-central retinal artery occlusion. Eye 37, 2659–2663 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02379-7

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