The predictive value of echography in diabetic vitreous hemorrhage

To identify echographic signs that are predictive for the prognosis of diabetic vitreous hemorrhage (VH).

Sixty eyes of 58 diabetic patients with VH were divided into two groups: group I contained 32 eyes with nonclearing diabetic VH which underwent pars plana vitrectomies. Group II contained 28 eyes which cleared spontaneously with time. The echographic signs were classified according to blood density, blood location and to the presence of vitreoretinal traction.

The two groups showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) in the frequencies of the same echographic signs. In group I, a high or moderate density of blood in the vitreous cavity (71.5% of eyes), partial posterior vitreous detachment with one or more vitreoretinal or papillary traction sites (67.8%) and blood located in the vitreous gel (62.5%) were the main echographic signs associated with nonclearing diabetic VH. In group II, a low density of blood in the vitreous cavity (75%), total posterior vitreous detachment without a vitreoretinal or papillary traction site (68.8%) and blood in the subvitreal space (46.5%) were the main echographic signs associated with a diabetic VH that will clear with time. The presence of blood in both the vitreous gel and in the subvitreal space occurred at the same frequency (near 28%).

Ultrasonographic examination of a diabetic VH can be predictive for the ultimate prognosis of the intraocular blood. The echographic signs found to be associated with spontaneous clearing of the hemorrhage are a low density of hemorrhage, complete vitreous detachment and blood in the subvitreal space.