Coat's Disease

As seen in my other blogs, I think that I have a knack for choosing pathologies that deal with children or seem to affect pregnant mothers. It is completely coincidental. And yet, I have still managed to randomly pick another that falls within this criteria.

Coat's disease (Exudative Retinitis) is a disorder that affects the retina of the eye. It usually starts as an abnormal growth spurt in the capillaries that supply blood to the retina. It is a progressive disease and is usually found in children, especially boys, within the first ten years of life. In some cases, it is found in young adults. There is no known cause.

Symptoms are vision loss, primarily central vision, but peripheral vision may also be affected. It can lead to mild or total blindness. However, only one eye is usually affected.

These abnormal blood vessels may dilate, malform, or leak, which may cause the retina to swell.

The leaking blood vessels may be treated with laser surgery or cryotherapy. In severe cases, if the retina becomes detached, a virectomy may be performed to replace the vitreous with a gas bubble that can help restore vision. In some cases, the disease may stop progression on its own.

Diagnosis of Coat's disease can be accomplished by looking at the back of the eye, as well as performing fluorescein angiography by injecting contrast to see the blood circulation in the back of the eye. MRI, CT and Ultrasound are also useful.

" Coat’s disease. Color Doppler USG (a) shows a large retinal detachment with hypoechoic subretinal exudates. CT (b) shows diffuse increase in the intraocular density"

Sources:

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_rnib003642.hcsp

http://www.palmettoretina.com/learn/conditions/coats_disease.html

Image Source:

http://www.ijo.in/viewimage.asp?img=IndianJOphthalmol_2006_54_4_227_27946_29.jpg