Multimodal Imaging Characterization of Arteriolosclerotic Plaques in Retinal Vein Occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the multimodal imaging features and the clinical associations of arteriolosclerotic plaques in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of patients with RVO. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded at the time of RVO for each participant. Best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness were collected at baseline and observed for 1 year. Arteriolosclerotic plaques were identified on multimodal imaging, and their imaging features were summarized. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between eyes with arteriolosclerotic plaques and those with no arteriolosclerotic plaques were reported. RESULTS: Seventy-five eyes of 75 patients (39 males; mean age, 72.5 years) were included. Arteriolosclerotic plaques were identified in nine eyes (12%) as segmental, yellow, ill-defined creamy lesions in the arterioles' walls. Baseline macular edema was worse in eyes with arteriolosclerotic plaques than in eyes with no plaques (716.5 mu m vs 539.7 mu m). Arteriolosclerotic plaques did not interfere with blood flow and regressed in three eyes (33%). Eyes with plaques had worse best-corrected visual acuity (P < .001) and lower central macular thickness (P = .02) at 12 months than did eyes with RVO and no plaques. CONCLUSIONS: Arteriolosclerotic plaques suggest an ischemic or inflammatory involvement of the arteriolar branches in eyes with RVO and are associated with severe macular damage.