[Fundus manifestation and treatment of Takayasu's arteritis]

To evaluate the fundus manifestation and treatment of Takayasu's arteritis.

Retrospective case series was taken to study the clinical data of 15 patients (30 eyes) diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1992 to 2010. Examinations included visual acuity, slit-lamp, fundus, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), large vascular ultrasound, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and reactive protein C (CRP). All patients were given systemic corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents and anticoagulants. Three patients (4 eyes) received retinal photocoagulation, and 1 patient (1 eye) received vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade.

Fifteen cases aged 13 - 49 years [mean (33.6 ± 11.1) years] were enrolled, including 2 male and 13 female patients. Two patients recognized by initial presentation of impaired vision prior to the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis. Visual acuity: light perception -0.05, 6 eyes; 0.1 - 0.5, 4 eyes; 0.6 - 1.0, 5 eyes; and above 1.0, 15 eyes. The fundus examination revealed chronic ischemic retinopathy in 16 eyes characterized by microaneurysms, cotton-wool spots and peripapillary arteriovenous anastomosis, and complicated by vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment and proliferative retinopathy at the late stage. There was hypertensive retinopathy in 14 eyes with features of narrow retinal artery, arteriovenous crossing signs and retinal hemorrhage. FFA showed prolonged arm-to-retina circulation time and retinal circulation time, microaneurysms and neovasculature. Six cases were classified as brachiocephalic arteritis, and 9 patients belonged to extensive arteritis. ESR increased in 9 patients and CRP elevated in 5 patients. Capillary non-perfusion areas in 4 eyes subsided after retinal photocoagulation, and retina reattached in 1 eye after vitrectomy with visual acuity improved from light perception to count finger.

Fundus manifestation of Takayasu's arteritis is usually characterized by chronic ischemic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy, and complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment and proliferative retinopathy occur at advanced stage. The first symptom in some patients can be impaired vision. The prognosis could be improved if ophthalmologists know fundus characteristics of Takayasu's arteritis and give timely and correct diagnosis and treatment.