J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2001 Jul;42(7):1111-1116.

Prepapillary Vascular Loops Associated with Retinal Diseases

• Lee SJ
• Kang SW

Abstract

PURPOSE
Prepapillary vascular loops are blood vessels that project from the optic disc into the vitreous cavity and then return to the disc to continue their natural cource. Ninety percent are arterial in origin and usually congenital anomaly. We report four cases of prepapillary vascular loops associated with retinal and choroidal disorders.
METHODS
Prepapillary vascular channel which showed twisted or ringlike appearance without leakage on fluorescein angiogram constituted the diagnosis. However, there may be a sector delay in filling of the optic disc or retina supplied by the loop due to the increased distance that blood must travel through the loop.
RESULTS
These cases are not associated with vision-threatening diseases. The associated retinal diseases are diabetic retinopathy in one case, retinitis pigmentosa in one case, contralateral posterior uveitis in two cases. They are arterial loops. In two eyes were observed multiple prepapillary vascular loops. The vessels may appear as simple hairpin loops, spiral, or corkscrew configuration. In our cases, the presence of a cilioretinal artery and retinal artery obstruction could not be determined; other complication associated with prepapillary vascular loops were not observed.
CONCLUSIONS
We assume that prepapillary vascular loops may occur acquiredly associated with other ocular diseases.

Keyword

Diabetic retinopathy; Posterior uveitis; Prepapillary vascular loops; Retinitis pigmentosa

MeSH Terms

Arteries
Blood Vessels
Choroid
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diagnosis
Fluorescein
Retina
Retinal Artery
Retinal Diseases*
Retinaldehyde*
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Uveitis, Posterior
Fluorescein
Retinaldehyde