Retinal vascular abnormalities in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the ophthalmology findings in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).

METHODS

Data source and subjects: 7 consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary stroke unit with CAA-related hemorrhage, confirmed on magnetic resonance brain imaging gradient echo sequences by 2 independent neuroradiologists.

DESIGN

case series. Measurements and data analysis: fundus colored photographs and fundus fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS

All patients showed bilateral multiple dot and blot hemorrhages as well as multiple microaneurysms on fundus fluorescein angiography.

CONCLUSION

Microaneurysms and dot and blot hemorrhages funduscopically mirror the histopathology of CAA. This case series is the first to describe retinal vessel changes in CAA and, if confirmed in larger population studies, has the potential to provide insights into the natural history of CAA.