Neuro-Ophthalmic Manifestations of Vasculitis

The vasculitides are a miscellaneous group of diseases with a common feature of inflammation in blood vessels leading to secondary Ischemic changes in the 11ffected organ or tissue. The diagnosis requires the demonstration of inflammation within the walls of blood vessels and should include damage to the endothelium, muscle and{ or elastica, a cellular infiltrate and fibrin deposition. The demonstration of immunoreactant deposition (e.g., complement, immunoglobulins) is also considered evidence of vasculitis. Vasculitis most commonly occurs at filtration sites and blood vessel junctions. Thus, the glomeruli, the choroid plexus, the ciliary body, and arterial branches are the most common target sites.