Confocal microscopy of telangiectatic capillaries (TelCaps) and other features of microvascular remodeling following BRVO
Flatmounted tissues Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a frequent retinal vascular disease which may cause extensive microvascular remodeling leading to severe visual impairment. Little is known regarding the histology of non-neovascular microvascular remodeling.
Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a frequent retinal vascular disease which may cause extensive microvascular remodeling leading to severe visual impairment. Little is known regarding the histology of non-neovascular microvascular remodeling. Here, we examined by confocal microscopy the structure of retinal microvessels of a donor eye with longstanding BRVO.
In this work, we describe the spectrum of microvascular abnormalities upstream of a longstanding BRVO in a 91-year-old human donor. This spectrum comprises a large parafoveal telangiectatic capillary corresponding to what has been previously clinically defined as TelCap. The absence of intraluminal nuclear staining in the majority of abnormal vessels raises the hypothesis that loss of endothelial cells plays a crucial role in the development of the different manifestations of capillary remodeling. The presence of vWF in deendothelialized vessels suggests deposition of plasma, hence that they may remain perfused. Our work may help to understand clinical imaging features of TelCaps.
In this work, we describe the spectrum of microvascular abnormalities upstream of a longstanding BRVO in a 91-year-old human donor. This spectrum comprises a large parafoveal telangiectatic capillary corresponding to what has been previously clinically defined as TelCap. The absence of intraluminal nuclear staining in the majority of abnormal vessels raises the hypothesis that loss of endothelial cells plays a crucial role in the development of the different manifestations of capillary remodeling. The presence of vWF in deendothelialized vessels suggests deposition of plasma, hence that they may remain perfused. Our work may help to understand clinical imaging features of TelCaps.
