Gliosis
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| G93.8 | Other specified diseases of the brain |
| H35.3 | Degeneration of the macula and posterior pole |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
Gliosis is the name given to an increased number of glial cells in a damaged area of the central nervous system or the brain . This is the non-specific neuropathological response to various neurological diseases. The glial cells take up the space here, but not the function of the destroyed nerve cells .
Epiretinal gliosis
The epiretinal gliosis , also macular pucker , is directly visible because of its location in the eye, in contrast to the glioses of the rest of the central nervous system. In this disease, contractile, collagen-containing cells, which can be of very different origins, collect on the inner (epiretinal) boundary membrane between the retina and the vitreous humor , where they form a compacted layer that tends to gradually shrink. Possible cells of origin include the astrocytes and Müller cells of the retina, i.e. real glial cells, but also cells of the retinal pigment epithelium or inflammatory cells.
root cause
Epiretinal gliosis can occur without an apparent cause ( idiopathic ) or as a result of eye diseases or operations (secondary).
Symptoms
Depending on its extent, epiretinal gliosis can go unnoticed, but it can also cause visual disturbances such as metamorphopsia or a central scotoma . Very extensive, contractile gliotic membranes can lead to retinal detachment and thus to complete loss of vision in the affected eye.
Diagnosis
During the ophthalmoscope , the epiretinal membrane can be recognized by its glitter and any distortion of the choroid and vessels. The test with the Amsler grid is used to determine early metamorphopsias and their dynamics.
therapy
The frequent, delicate epiretinal glioses with no tendency to progression do not require treatment.
In the case of bothersome symptoms, an improvement in vision or, in some cases, complete healing with peeling ( peeling ) of the epiretinal membranes is possible; an operation that removes the entire epiretinal border membrane after a pars plana vitrectomy .
Diseases with similar symptoms
Similar symptoms can be caused by numerous other eye diseases, especially of the retina and choroid, and the disease itself can be a sign of another eye disease, so that with such complaints a detailed examination of the entire affected eye and the opposite side is always necessary.
