Ophthalmology - Hypertensive Retinopathy Flashcards
1
Q
What is hypertensive retinopathy?
A
- Damage that occurs to the BVs in the retina in response to systemic hypertension.
- Can be result of chronic HTN or can develop quickly in response to malignant HTN
2
Q
Describe the signs that occur in the retina in response to systemic hypertension (6)
A
- Silver wiring/copper wiring: walls of anteriores become thickened and sclerosed, causing increased reflection of the light
- Arteriovenous nipping: arteriales cause compression of the veins they cross (due to sclerosis and hardening of the arterioles)
- Cottol wool spots: caused by Ischaemic and infarction of the retina, causing damage to nerve fibres
- Hard exudates: caused by damaged vessels leaking lipids into retina
- Retinal haemorrhages: caused by damaged vessels rupturing and releasing blood into the retina
- Papilloedema: caused by ischaemia of the optic nerve, which leads to nerve oedema and blurring of disc margins
3
Q
What does this picture show?
A
4
Q
Name the 7 abnormalities labelled on this picture
A
5
Q
What are the features of stage 1 of the Keith-Wagner Classification?
A
- Mild narrowing and tortuous its of the arterioles
- Increasing light reflex (silver wiring)
6
Q
What are the features of stage 2 of the Keith-Wagner Classification?
A
-Focal constriction of blood vessels and AV nicking
7
Q
What are the features of stage 3 of the Keith-Wagner Classification?
A
-Cotton-wool patches, exudates and haemorrhages (flame and blot)
8
Q
What are the features of stage 4 of the Keith-Wagner Classification?
A
-Papilloedema
