Bilateral large peripapillary venous and arterial loops

Abstract

Background: Peripapillary loops of venous origin are extremely rare.

Case: A 55-year-old woman was referred to us for further examination of peripapillary vascular abnormalities.

Observations: Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography clearly showed a venous and an arterial peripapillary loop in both her right and left fundi. The venous loop in the right eye was in a large hairpin configuration, extending into the retina about 1 disc diameter from the optic disc. Fluorescein angiography in the left eye revealed slow and irregular filling of dye into a venous loop that showed stasis of the bloodstream through the loop. Various retinal vascular abnormalities, including cilioretinal artery and triple branching of the retinal vein were also observed.

Conclusion: The findings in this case of bilateral peripapillary venous and arterial loops and unilateral trifurcation of retinal vein suggest that there could be an association in the other retinal abnormalities. Periodic follow-up examinations seem necessary.