The retinal vascular changes shown here are most likely caused by?
Correct. Systemic hypertension, especially if severe, damages the retinal vasculature, resulting in cotton wool spots, flame-shaped hemorrhages, retinal infarcts, and optic disc edema, as seen here. If the retina has not been badly infarcted, these abnormalities will disappear and vision will recover as blood pressure is controlled.
Incorrect. Lupus retinopathy can cause flame-shaped hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, and retinal arteriolar occlusions. However, there is another diagnosis that also has these characteristics and is much more prevalent. Try again!
Incorrect. Behçet's disease causes a retinal vasculitis, manifesting as white cuffs around retinal vessels and retinal microinfarctions, as evidenced by surface hemorrhages and cotton wool spots. There are no white cuffs in this picture, so try for a more common explanation.
Incorrect. Retinal manifestations of sarcoidosis include white cuffs around retinal vessels and gray-white choroidal nodules. Hemorrhages and cotton wool spots are less common. Try again!