Page 363 - The Vasculitides, Volume 1: General Considerations and Systemic Vasculitis

In: The Vasculitides, Volume 1 ISBN: 978-1-63463-110-5
Editors: David S. Younger © 2015 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Chapter 18

Ophthalmologic and Neuro-
Ophthalmologic Aspects of Vasculitides

Sarah Conway, M.D.1 and David S. Younger, M.D., M.P.H.1,2?

1,2 New York University School of Medicine
2 Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Medical Center,

New York,US

Abstract

There have been significant advances in the understanding of the vasculitides in the
past several years leading to more precise classification and nosology. Ophthalmologic
manifestations may be the presenting feature of and a clue to the diagnosis of vasculitis,
or develop in the course of the illness due to a common disease mechanism. Precise
diagnosis and prompt treatment prevents short and long-terms ophthalmologic sequela.

Keywords: Neuro-Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Vasculitis, CNS

Introduction

Vasculitis is a term used to characterize a spectrum of diseases associated with vascular
inflammation. Ophthalmologic manifestations may be the presenting features of primary and
secondary systemic vasculitis and a clue to early diagnosis to prevent ischemic vascular
sequela. Unrecognized and therefore untreated, the ophthalmologic and neuro-ophthalmologic
features can be catastrophic with irreversible loss of function particularly when visual
involvement coincides with vasculitic brain infarction, hemorrhage, and aneurysm formation
or ischemic involvement of the optic nerve or surrounding orbital structures. This chapter
considers the ophthalmologic aspects of primary systemic vasculitis and primary central

? Address for Correspondence: David S. Younger M.D., M.P.H., 333 East 34th Street, 1J, New York NY 10016. E-
mail: [email protected].

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