A study published in Physician’s Weekly investigated the visual outcomes, clinical features, and treatment of individuals with occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV), a condition that is characterized by inflammation in the vessels of the retina. The researchers’ goal was to discover and learn more about the rare ocular condition, as this knowledge will allow for improved diagnosis and treatment in the future.
About Retinal Vasculitis
Retinal vasculitis is an ocular condition that is characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels in the retina and loss of vision. It can appear as an isolated condition or as a symptom of another disorder, but the latter is the most common. It has been associated with multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, and other conditions. While it is not a painful disorder, it causes symptoms like blurry vision, dark spots in the vision, visual floaters, the distortion of images, and a decreased ability to distinguish colors. It can lead to the loss of sight.
About the Study
The study was a retrospective cohort trial that utilized data from the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution. 42 patients who visited the institution between 2006 and 2017 were included in the study, all of whom were followed for a minimum of six months. Researchers analyzed their ocular features, demographic data, treatment regimens, fluorescein angiography, best corrected visual acuity, and outcomes.
One goal of this study was to identify the factors that can predict prognosis. To find out the answer, the team of researchers performed multivariate logistic regression. This told them that macular ischemia, optic nerve atrophy, and poor best corrected visual acuity were the best predictors of a poor outcome.
In terms of treatment, 40 of the 42 participants were treated with immunomodulatory therapy (IMT), leading to 35 of them achieving steroid-free remission. Throughout the study, researchers found that aggressive IMT is the best method to reach this outcome.
This data will be very helpful for any further research into ORV. To read more, click here.
