Question

A 38 year old warehouse stocker presents to your office complaining of a headache. He has had these headaches intermittently for several years, but they have been increasing in frequency. In your clinic, his BP was 170/110, dipstick positive for proteinuria, and glucose 100. You diagnose him with uncontrolled HTN. What finding on fundoscopic exam would support this diagnosis?

a) cotton-wool spots
b) arteriovenous (AV) nicking
c) blurred optic disc margins
d) macular star

Answer 1

B. Arteriovenous (AV nicking)

Step-by-step explanation:

This is said to be a phenomenon found in the eyes. AV nicking as it is also known to be is a condition in which a small artery crosses small vein causing vein compression in eye. It is a microscopic phenomenon which can be seen with a microscope only. When artery compresses vein, it results in vein compression and blood pressure increases on either side of vein. This increase in blood pressure leads to bulging of vein which appears prominently in microscopic examination of eye. AV nicking commonly occurs in an eye disease caused by high blood pressure named hypertensive retinopathy. It occurs because both arteriole and venule share a common sheath.