Objective To observe the clinical manifestation and treatment effect of Coatsprime; disease in adulthood. Methods The clinical data of 18 adult patients with Coatsprime; disease from 1980 to 2006 at the department of ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital which had been diagnosed by ocular fundus examination and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), were retrospectively analyzed. The follow-up period was one year. Coatsprime; response diseases in all the patiens were excluded, such as history of radiation therapy, intraocular inflammation, retinal vascular occlusion, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and more leakage of diabetic retinopathy. The patients, 14 males and 4 females, 11 left eyes and 7 right eyes, all of them occurs in unilateral; aged from 37 to 55 years with the average age of 43 years; the initial diagnostic vision was 0.02 to 1.5, the visual value was 0.1. 17 patients (17 eyes) were treated by laser photocoagulation, 1 patient was treated by release of retinal operation with condensation. The mean follow up period was 3.7 years (ranged from 1 to 15.3 years). Results In 18 patients (18 eyes), vitreous clear in 14 eyes, vitreous few muddy in 4 years when initial diagnosis. The optic discs in 18 eyes are normal. Lesions confined to one or two quadrant, for the most are in the temporal(15/18 eyes), less are in Bice (4/18 eyes), only one eye at top; two eyes lesions involved in 2 quadrant. There are typical retinal vascular anomalies expansion, miliary aneurysm, arterial aneurysm, macroaneurysms and capillary without perfusion areas; yellowwhite hard leakage by a large block or cluster in Lesion corresponding region. More than half of the eyes with macular edema or leakage; limited retinal detachment in 4 eyes, the range was very wide in 1 eye; retinal hemorrhage in 3 eyes. After treatment the exudation or the hemorrhage were absorbed and retinas were reset. Compared the visual acuity with before treatment, mostly (64.3%) improved 2 lines or keep in 1.2-1.5, no one decreased over 2 lines. The last vision was 0.02-1.5, the visual value was 0.1. Conclusions Coatsprime; disease in adulthood diagnosed in first time has similar characteristics with children, such as vascular anomaly of retina, fundus exudation. The differences including limited area of involvement, less hemorrhages, mild damage on macular, slow development of lesions in follow-up period and better visual prognosis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2008,24:279-282)
The retinal vessel changes are the primary and major features of retinal vascular diseases. The retinal vessel is part of systemic vessels with its own characteristics to sustain normal retinal function. These basic characteristics are important to the correct understanding and proper treatment of retinal vascular diseases. Always keep in mind that the retinal vessels is one part of the systemic vascular system, thus retinal vascular diseases may have systemic etiology, and systemic drug administration may have a profound effects to the whole body. However retinal vascular system also has its own structural and functional characteristics, thus retinal vascular diseases are also different from the systemic diseases. Finally the main function of retinal vascular network is to maintain the neuro-retinal function, thus we should balance the vision protection and treatments against abnormal retinal blood vessels. Over-treatments may damage the retinal vision.
Intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic agents is widely used to treat retinal vascular disease. This therapy can induce regression of neovascular vessels; reduce intraocular inflammation and retinal vascular permeability, and control macular edema. However the action period of these agents is short, and thus this therapy need repeated injections which cause higher operation risk and cost. Retinal laser photocoagulation therapy can close retinal capillary non-perfusion area and neovascular vessels, reduce macular edema caused by vascular leakage. However, as its therapeutic effect is based on the destruction of the retinal tissues in the lesion area, this therapy need longer time to show its effects. When the disease is controlled by this method, it may already induce some structural irreversible damages to the retina, especially the macular. This is why the visual acuity is not satisfactory in some patients, even though the disease get controlled, macular edema gets disappeared and anatomical structure of retina get improved. Properly evaluating all the pros and cons of retinal photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of antiangiogenic agents, will allow us to explore a better way to combine these two therapies to treat retinal vascular diseases.