
2Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, University of Colorado School of Medicine, USA
Major Criteria | Minor Criteria |
Retinal vasculitis | Peripheral capillary nonperfusion |
Neuroretinitis | Retinal neovascularization |
Aneurysmal dilations of the optic nerve head and retinal arterioles at or near their major branching sites | Macular exudation |
One of the differential diagnoses when faced with a patient with aneurysms is senile acquired macroaneurysms. A way to differentiate these two conditions is that the latter tend to occur in older patients with a history of hypertension. The aneurysms in senile acquired macroaneurysms tend to be round and are associated with hemorrhage and serous exudation.
During eye examination, aneurismal changes are habitually present on the optic nerve head. The arteries passing through the optic nerve head have dilating changes that give the appearance of elongation. Exudative retinopathy is usually seen adjacent to the retinal and optic nerve head aneurysms [1]. Conventional fundus photos can demonstrate aneurismal changes although these are more prominently seen on fluorescein angiography [1]. Fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography are useful tools in identifying the aneurysms, peripheral capillary nonperfusion and disk staining abnormalities [1,5]. The staining of the arterial and venous walls corresponds to vasculitis. Neuroretinitis is seen by diffuse staining of the optic nerve head in late phase IVFA. These two studies also allow the visualization of retinal non perfusion.

Samuel and colleagues proposed a classification based on ocular findings to evaluate the progression of the disease and the response to treatment [3].
Stage | Ocular Findings |
1 | Macroaneurysms, exudation, neuroretinitis and retinal vacuities |
2 | Capillary nonperfusion with angiographic evidence |
3 | Posterior segment neovascularization of disc or elsewhere and/or vitreous hemorrhage |
4 | Anterior segment neovascularization (tubeosis iridis) |
5 | Neovascular glaucoma |
Several management options have been proposed depending on the clinical course. Observation for affected eyes without retinal neovascularization and no visual loss can be considered [1,8]. Interventional treatment options are medical treatment, laser photocoagulation and retinal surgery. Retinal photocoagulation (PRP) should be performed as early as possible if there are areas of widespread retinal nonperfusion. Eyes treated with photocoagulation as early as stage 2 maintain visual acuity and do not progress to an advance stage of the disease (figure 2) [3]. Other treatment options have been proposed, including oral and intravitreal glucocosteroids, immunosuppressive therapy, intravitreal anti VEGF injections. Pars plana vitrectomy has been performed in advanced cases with favorable results [9-14].

There has been more awareness of this rare disease in recent years leading to a better diagnosis of affected patients. Although the clinical spectrum varies, the major causes of vision loss are retinal non perfusion and neovascularization. Patients have usually been treated with photocoagulation, steroids and surgery to prevent visual deterioration but the treatment is still controversial. PRP is the only well accepted treatment and is often effective, especially in disease stage 2 and 3. Systemic corticosteroids have been proposed as possible treatment options since the presence of anterior chamber cells and vitritis implies that there is an underlying inflammatory etiology, but these have not proved to stop the progression of neovascularization. The role that immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory agents play in the treatment of the disease is still unclear. There have been cases that suggest treatment with infliximab can reduce inflammation [15,16]. There has been a proposal to classify the disease based on ocular findings that would help monitor treatment response and disease progression.
The authors declare there exists no financial interest or any conflict of interest.
- Chang TS., et al. “Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuro-retinitis Retinal Vasculitis Study”. Ophthalmology 102.7 (1995): 1089-1097.
- Kincaid J., et al. “Bilateral retinal arteritis with multiple aneurysmal dilatations”. Retina 3.3 (1983): 171-178.
- Samuel MA., et al. “Idiopathic retinitis, vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN): new observations and a proposed staging system”. Ophthalmology Aug 114.8 (2007): 1526-1529.
- McDonald HR. “Diagnostics and therapeutic challenges. IRVAN syndrome”. Retina 23.3 (2003): 392-399.
- Yeshurun I., et al. “Extensive dynamics in location, shape, and size of aneurysms in a patient with idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome. Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis”. American Journal of Ophthalmology 135.1 (2003): 118-120.
- Nourinia R., et al. “Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis syndrome associated with positive perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody”. Journal of ophthalmic & vision research 6.4 (2011): 330-333.
- Soheilian M., et al. “IDIOPATHIC RETINAL VASCULITIS, ANEURYSMS, AND NEURORETINITIS (IRVAN) SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH POSITIVE PERINUCLEAR ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY (P-ANCA)”. Retinal Cases Brief Reports 4.2 (2009): 198-201
- Basha M., et al. “Management of IRVAN syndrome with observation”. Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers andImaging Retina 45 (2014): 18-22.
- Sawhney GK., et al. “Combination anti-VEGF and corticosteroid therapy for idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis syndrome”. Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers Imaging Retina 44.6 (2013): 599-602.
- Ennouri A., et al. “Intravitreal and intravenous steroids in a case of Idiopathic Retinitis, Vasculitis and Neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome”. Journal Fr Ophthalmology 37.1 (2014): 5-8.
- Empeslidis T., et al. “Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis”. European Journal of Ophthalmology 23.5 (2013): 757-760.
- Karagiannis D., et al. “Ranibizumab for idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis: favorable results”. European Journal of Ophthalmology 20.4 (2010): 792-794.
- Cheema RA., et al. “Infliximab therapy for idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysm, and neuroretinitis syndrome”. Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics 27.4 (2011): 407-410.
- Tomita M., et al. “Long term follow up in a case of successfully treated idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN)”. British Journal of Ophthalmology 88.2 (2004): 302-303.
- Renie WA., et al. “The evaluation of patients with Eales' disease”. Retina 3(1983): 243-248.
- Saatch AO. “Single Bilateral Dexamethasone Implant in Addition to Panretinal Photocoagulation and Oral Azathioprine Treatment in IRVAN Syndrome”. Case Reports in Opthalmology 6.1 (2015): 56-62.
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