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Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

AI overview

Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (arteritic AION, A-AION or AAION) is vision loss that occurs in giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis).

Key points
  • Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory disease of medium-sized blood vessels that happens especially with advancing age.
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    Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory disease of medium-sized blood vessels that happens especially with advancing age.
  • AAION occurs in about 15-20 percent of patients with temporal arteritis.
    source quote
    AAION occurs in about 15-20 percent of patients with temporal arteritis.
  • Damage to the blood vessels supplying the optic nerves leads to insufficient blood supply (ischemia) to the nerve and subsequent optic nerve fiber death.
    source quote
    Damage to the blood vessels supplying the optic nerves leads to insufficient blood supply ( ischemia ) to the nerve and subsequent optic nerve fiber death.
  • AAION falls under the general category of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), which also includes non-arteritic AION (NAION).
    source quote
    Arteritic AION (AAION) falls under the general category of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), which also includes non-arteritic AION (NAION).
  • A related disease called polymyalgia rheumatica has a 15 percent incidence of giant cell arteritis.
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    A related disease called polymyalgia rheumatica has a 15 percent incidence of giant cell arteritis.
  • AAION is almost always caused by temporal arteritis (also known as giant cell arteritis).
    source quote
    AAION is almost always caused by temporal arteritis (also known as giant cell arteritis ).
  • In rare cases, AAION may be caused by other types of vasculitis, such as polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus and herpes zoster.
    source quote
    In rare cases, AAION may be caused by other types of vasculitis , such as polyarteritis nodosa , systemic lupus erythematosus and herpes zoster .
  • In AAION, the posterior ciliary artery becomes inflamed which results in a thrombotic occlusion of the main blood supply to the optic nerve head with a risk of visual loss in the affected eye or eyes.
    source quote
    In AAION, the posterior ciliary artery becomes inflamed which results in a thrombotic occlusion of the main blood supply to the optic nerve head with a risk of visual loss in the affected eye or eyes.
Symptoms
  • Sudden visual loss is the most common symptom in AAION.
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    Sudden visual loss is the most common symptom in AAION
  • Other symptoms of temporal arteritis include jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, myalgias and loss of appetite.
    source quote
    such as jaw claudication , scalp tenderness, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, myalgias and loss of appetite
Diagnosis
  • Diagnosis is primarily made by examination by an ophthalmologist.
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    Diagnosis is primarily made by examination by an ophthalmologist .
  • The diagnosis may be suspected in people with visual loss or amaurosis fugax.
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    The diagnosis may be suspected in people with visual loss or amaurosis fugax .
  • AAION occurs in elderly and late middle-aged people.
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    AAION occurs in elderly and late middle-aged people.
  • Certain blood tests are usually elevated which may help identify AAION as part of temporal arteritis: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
    source quote
    Certain blood tests are usually elevated which may help identify AAION as part of temporal arteritis: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Treatment
  • AAION requires urgent intervention with a very long course of corticosteroids to prevent further damage.
    source quote
    AAION requires urgent intervention with a very long course of corticosteroids to prevent further damage.
Red flags
  • AAION is considered an eye emergency, immediate treatment is essential to rescue remaining vision.
    source quote
    AAION is considered an eye emergency, immediate treatment is essential to rescue remaining vision.
Prognosis

Most cases of AAION result in nearly complete vision loss first to one eye. If the temporal arteritis is left untreated, the affected eye will likely suffer vision loss as well within 1–2 weeks.

AI-synthesized from the Wikipedia article “Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy”. Not medical advice. Verify source →
Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
SpecialtyOphthalmology, rheumatology

Arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (arteritic AION, A-AION or AAION) is vision loss that occurs in giant cell arteritis (also known as temporal arteritis). Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory disease of medium-sized blood vessels that happens especially with advancing age. AAION occurs in about 15-20 percent of patients with temporal arteritis. Damage to the blood vessels supplying the optic nerves leads to insufficient blood supply (ischemia) to the nerve and subsequent optic nerve fiber death. Most cases of AAION result in nearly complete vision loss first to one eye. If the temporal arteritis is left untreated, the affected eye will likely suffer vision loss as well within 1–2 weeks. Arteritic AION (AAION) falls under the general category of anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION), which also includes non-arteritic AION (NAION). AAION is considered an eye emergency, immediate treatment is essential to rescue remaining vision.[1]

Sudden visual loss is the most common symptom in AAION,[1] and is most often accompanied by other symptoms of temporal arteritis: such as jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, myalgias and loss of appetite.[1] A related disease called polymyalgia rheumatica has a 15 percent incidence of giant cell arteritis. [citation needed]

AAION is almost always caused by temporal arteritis (also known as giant cell arteritis).[1] In rare cases, AAION may be caused by other types of vasculitis, such as polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus and herpes zoster.[1] In AAION, the posterior ciliary artery becomes inflamed which results in a thrombotic occlusion of the main blood supply to the optic nerve head with a risk of visual loss in the affected eye or eyes.[1]

Diagnosis is primarily made by examination by an ophthalmologist.[1] The diagnosis may be suspected in people with visual loss or amaurosis fugax.[1] AAION occurs in elderly and late middle-aged people.[1] Certain blood tests are usually elevated which may help identify AAION as part of temporal arteritis: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).[1]

AAION requires urgent intervention with a very long course of corticosteroids to prevent further damage.[1]