Comments and Conclusions Con’t

  • Arteriovenous communications of the retina can be classified into three groups4:
    – Group 1-The retina shows interposition of an abnormal capillary plexus between the major vessels, mostly without visual symptoms.
    – Group 2-The retina reveals direct arteriovenous communications without interposition of capillaries. Patients have few visual symptoms, In addition, associated cerebral AVMs may be found.
    – Grade 3-More extensive arteriovenous shunts occur together with visual loss. The fundus changes are typical for CRC syndrome with a high incidence of central nervous system lesions.
  • A recent publication by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke indicates that each year, about 1 percent of those with cephalic AVMs will die as a direct result of the AVM.5
  • Therapeutic procedures are indicated only in cases with increasing vascular malformations in the eye or brain. AVMs of the CRC syndrome do not differ substantially from the more common brain AVMs.
  • Patients with arteriovenous communication of the retina should be evaluated with brain and orbital imaging in order to confirm or deny the presence of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.4
  • Our patient has been referred for an MRI to rule out AVMs in the orbit and brain.