TY - JOUR
T1 - Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality
T2 - A previously unrecognized form of choroidal neovascularization
AU - Fukushima, I.
AU - McLeod, D. S.
AU - Lutty, G. A.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. This study was supported by the American Heart Association, Dallas, Texas; the Titus and Brownstein Foundations, New York, New York; and National Institutes of Health grant EY01765 (to Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute). Dr Lutty is an American Heart Association Established Investigator.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathologic and histochemical characteristics of intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality. METHODS: Forty eyes obtained at autopsy from human donors ranging in age from 20 to 91 years (25 diabetics, 15 nondiabetics) were analyzed. Choroids were processed for alkaline phosphatase flat-embedding. Vascular patterns were examined and analyzed before embedding and serial sectioning. RESULTS: Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality had the most prominent alkaline phosphatase reaction product of choroidal vessels. These formations appeared as ameboid or cobweb-like vascular networks (area, 0.05 to 4.6 mm2) in the choroidal stroma external to the choriocapillaris. They appeared as both single or groups of formations in the posterior pole and equatorial regions in all subjects. Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality was found in five subjects with diabetes: four with type I diabetes mellitus, and one with type II diabetes mellitus. One subject had proliferative diabetic retinopathy, three had background retinopathy, and one had no retinopathy. Intra-choroidal microvascular abnormality was connected with all levels of choroidal vasculature. Microaneurysms were observed within intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality formations in most subjects but not in other choroidal vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality is a form of intrachoroidal neovascularization. This neovascularization has features similar to intraretinal microvascular abnormalities found in diabetic subjects but seems to form independently of the status of retinopathy. The presence of microaneurysms in intrachoroidal microvascular abnormalities and not other choroidal vessels supports the view that aneurysms may be aborted attempts at neovascularization.
AB - PURPOSE: To evaluate the histopathologic and histochemical characteristics of intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality. METHODS: Forty eyes obtained at autopsy from human donors ranging in age from 20 to 91 years (25 diabetics, 15 nondiabetics) were analyzed. Choroids were processed for alkaline phosphatase flat-embedding. Vascular patterns were examined and analyzed before embedding and serial sectioning. RESULTS: Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality had the most prominent alkaline phosphatase reaction product of choroidal vessels. These formations appeared as ameboid or cobweb-like vascular networks (area, 0.05 to 4.6 mm2) in the choroidal stroma external to the choriocapillaris. They appeared as both single or groups of formations in the posterior pole and equatorial regions in all subjects. Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality was found in five subjects with diabetes: four with type I diabetes mellitus, and one with type II diabetes mellitus. One subject had proliferative diabetic retinopathy, three had background retinopathy, and one had no retinopathy. Intra-choroidal microvascular abnormality was connected with all levels of choroidal vasculature. Microaneurysms were observed within intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality formations in most subjects but not in other choroidal vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Intrachoroidal microvascular abnormality is a form of intrachoroidal neovascularization. This neovascularization has features similar to intraretinal microvascular abnormalities found in diabetic subjects but seems to form independently of the status of retinopathy. The presence of microaneurysms in intrachoroidal microvascular abnormalities and not other choroidal vessels supports the view that aneurysms may be aborted attempts at neovascularization.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)70863-3
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)70863-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 9323938
AN - SCOPUS:0030881755
SN - 0002-9394
VL - 124
SP - 473
EP - 487
JO - American journal of ophthalmology
JF - American journal of ophthalmology
IS - 4
ER -