VASCULAR DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH ANGIOID STREAKS OF THE RETINA AND PSEUDOXANTHOMA ELASTICUM

Abstract

DURING the past two years angioid streaks of the retina have been seen in 3 patients, in 2 of whom pseudoxanthoma elasticum was also present. In these 2 patients severe vascular disturbance was found in all the extremities. Since no mention of a relationship of these three conditions has been found in the available literature and since the association is probably significant, the cases are being reported. The condition referred to as angioid streaks of the retina was first described by Doyne¹ in 1889. Since that time this condition has been found to be related clinically to two other degenerative diseases, (1) pseudoxanthoma elasticum and (2) osteitis deformans (Paget's disease). The relation to pseudoxanthoma elasticum was first noticed by Groenblad and Strandberg² in 1929. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a degenerative disease of the skin, first reported by Balzer,³ in 1884. Scholz,⁴ reviewing the cases of angioid streaks