Iris arteriovenous communication: Clinical and angiographic features

Background: Iris arteriovenous communication (IAVC) represents a quite rare congenital anomaly, consisting of abnormal vascular connection bypassing t he iris capillary bed. The aim of the present study is to describe clinical and angiographic pattern of IAVC on iris fluorescein angiography (IFA) and on indocyanine green videoangiography (IICGV). Methods: During a mean foll ow-up period of 33.5 months, eight patients affected by IAVC underwent at l east three ophthalmological examinations completed by IFA and IICGV. Result s: IFA allows the detection of IAVC vascular structures, evidencing afferen t, and efferent branches, which show a rapid filling, without any evidence of leakage or iris hypoperfusion. IICGV shows more precisely the entire vas cular pattern of IAVC, revealing also the presence of iris hypoperfusion in the sector in which the IAVC lay. One patient underwent cataract surgery; three months later, two neovascular tufts appeared in the hypoperfused area related to IAVC. In all other patients, periodical examinations did not re veal any clinical or angiographic changes. Conclusion: In IAVC, the clinica l picture appears stable throughout the follow-up; both angiographic techni ques seem able to precisely delineate the vascular pattern. Nevertheless, I ICGV is superior in showing iris hypoperfusion surrounding the vascular abn ormality. Particular care must be drawn to patients affected by IAVC who ne ed cataract surgery.