Purpose To report a pedigree with hereditary retinal arteriolar tortuosity
with macular haemorrhage and abnormality of the coagulation system.
Methods Case report and literature review.
Results A 49-year-old woman was referred due to macular haemorrhage in both
eyes. Her 16-year-old son had recurrent retinal haemorrhages which present
ed at age 16 years and had mild retinal arteriolar tortuosity. Coagulation
studies in the son revealed normal activated partial thromboplastin time (A
PTT), prolonged prothrombin time (FT) and 30% activity of factor VII.
Conclusions Factor VII deficiency may aggravate the haemorrhages in retinal
arteriolar tortuosity syndrome. We therefore suggest conducting routine co
agulation studies (PT, APTT) in all patients with retinal arteriolar tortuo
sity syndrome. Determination of factor VII activity is warranted only in pa
tients with normal APTT and prolonged PT.