Objective To observe the changes of disease course and the prognosis of visual acuity of Chinese patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy ( PCV).Methods Visual acuity and fundus photochromes of 20 eyes of 15 consec utive patients with PCV were followed up with a mean of 19.1 months (range from 2 to 64 months), in which the fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) of 14 eyes of 10 patients were followed up with a mean of 21.0 (range from 3 to 53) months.Results Among the 20 eyes, the visual acuity was more than 0.3 in 5 eyes (25.0%), between 0.1 and 0.2 in 6 (30%) and less than 0.1 in 9 (45.0%). During the follow-up, the visual acuity was improved in 2 (10.0%), stable in 10 (50.0%)), and regressed in 8 (40.0%). Only 1 eye (5.0 %) developed to macula scar. The result of ICGA revealed the polypoidal lesions that were unchanged in 4 eyes(28.6%), regressed in 2 (14.3%), grew in 6 (42.7%), repeatedly grew and spontaneously regressed in 6 (42.7%).Conclusions There is a large variation in the visual prognosis in Chinese patients with PCV. The polypoidal lesions can repeatedly grow and spontaneously regress in the natural course. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：8-11)
Objective To detect the clinical characters and the classification of the congenital retinal vascular anomalies. Methods Nine cases (12 eyes) of congenital retinal vascular anomalies were examined by ocular examination and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), in which 3 cases (4 eyes) were examined by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) simultaneously. Results The congenital retinal vascular anomalies were located at the posterior pole in 8 cases (10 eyes), and extended to peripheral retina in 1 case (2 eyes). Congenital retinal vascular anomalies were classified as follows: congenital retinal macrovessel (1 case, 1 eye); congenital retinal arteriolar tortuosity (2 cases, 3 eyes); inherited retinal venous beading (1 case, 2 eyes); and congenital prepapillary vascular loops (5 cases, 6 eyes). Four cases (5 eyes) were associated with spontaneous hemor rhage induced by physical exertion (Valsalva maneuver). Conclusion Most of the congenital retinal anomalies are located at the posterior pole, involving arteries and veins, and can be associated with spontaneous hemorrhage induced by Valsalva maneuver. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2003，19：269-332)
The abnormalities of retinal vessels such as retinal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, micro-aneurysms, retinal hemorrhages, and cotton wool spot are closely related to systemic diseases including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, stroke and renal diseases. The modern retinal vessels examination technology has features of quick noninvasive, quantitative standardized and intelligent analysis. Taking advantage of these to fully discover the retinal vascular abnormalities and get deeper understanding of the relationship between its' mechanism and systemic vascular diseases is not only helpful to better diagnose and treat retinal vascular diseases, but also contributes to predicting the risk and prognosis of systemic diseases. We suggest emphasizing on the study of correlation between retinal vascular abnormalities and systemic vascular diseases using modern retinal vessels examination technology. It will provide the preventive clue of diseases of circulatory system by finding out the retinopathy. Meanwhile, correctly treating systemic diseases would get a better prognosis of the retinopathy. They exist side by side and play a part together for providing a better prognosis, which would be a new direction for the doctors and scientists in the new era.
Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression independent of DNA nucleotide sequence itself, and the main mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, noncoding RNAs, and so on. Vascular disease is a chronic disease regulated by the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. In recent years, more and more studies have confirmed that epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of vascular diseases. This article reviews recent advances in epigenetics in vascular disease.