Fundus fluorescein angiography of patients with severe hypertensive nephropathy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the fluorescein angiograms of patients with hypertensive renal failure.

METHODS

Fluorescein angiograms were obtained of 34 patients with hypertensive renal failure. The glomerular filtration was less than 20 ml/min in each patient.

RESULTS

Capillary nonperfusion and a coarse retinal capillary bed are the hallmark of the hypertensive retinopathy. Tortuous retinal arterioles or tortuous retinal arteriovenous anastomoses are observed. It is suggested that capillary collaterals shunt arteriolar obstructions or short-cut nonperfused capillary beds; these remodel into tortuous arterioles or arteriovenous anastomoses with regular caliber. Elschnig spots and delayed choroidal filling are signs of hypertensive choroidopathy. Depigmentation spots of the retinal pigment epithelium without a central pigment clump are considered atypical Elschnig spots.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal pigment epithelial changes are permanent scars of hypertensive choroidopathy, while coarse retinal capillary bed and tortuous retinal arterioles or arteriovenous anastomoses are the result of hypertensive retinopathy in these patients with hypertensive renal failure.