EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES IN TERSONS-SYNDROME - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Background: Visual impairment resulting from retinal, subhyaloid, or v itreous hemorrhages in association with Tersons syndrome is often sign ificant. The most common long-term sequelae that may result in permane nt visual deficit is the formation of an epimacular membrane. Methods: This report provides clinicopathologic documentation of epiretinal me mbrane proliferation secondary to Tersons syndrome. Pars plana vitrect omy was performed in 16 eyes of 11 patients with Tersons syndrome. Aft er removal of vitreous hemorrhage, epimacular membranes were found in 10 eyes (62.5%). The posterior cortical vitreous and the epiretinal ti ssue were examined histologically. Results: Immunostainings with glial and retinal pigment epithelial cell markers showed that the majority of cells derived form the glia. Perls staining, specific for iron, sho wed that the high melanic-like component contained in the histopatholo gic samples corresponded to degradation of blood products secondary to chronic hemorrhage. Conclusion: The high risk of epiretinal membrane formation and the toxicity of blood breakdown products over the inner retina worsen the long-term visual prognosis in Tersons syndrome. Earl y surgery is advocated in such cases.