Roth's spot
Encyclopedia
Roth's spots are retina
l hemorrhages with white or pale centers composed of coagulated fibrin
. They are typically observed via fundoscopy (using an ophthalmoscope to view inside the eye
) or slit lamp exam.
They are usually caused by immune complex mediated vasculitis often resulting from bacterial endocarditis
.
Roth's spots may be observed in leukemia
, diabetes, subacute bacterial endocarditis
, pernicious anaemia, ischemic events
, and rarely in HIV retinopathy.
Roth's spots are named after Moritz Roth
.
Retina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
l hemorrhages with white or pale centers composed of coagulated fibrin
Fibrin
Fibrin is a fibrous, non-globular protein involved in the clotting of blood. It is a fibrillar protein that is polymerised to form a "mesh" that forms a hemostatic plug or clot over a wound site....
. They are typically observed via fundoscopy (using an ophthalmoscope to view inside the eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
) or slit lamp exam.
They are usually caused by immune complex mediated vasculitis often resulting from bacterial endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...
.
Roth's spots may be observed in leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, diabetes, subacute bacterial endocarditis
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves . Other structures that may be involved include the interventricular septum, the chordae tendineae, the mural endocardium, or even on intracardiac devices...
, pernicious anaemia, ischemic events
Ischemia
In medicine, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia...
, and rarely in HIV retinopathy.
Roth's spots are named after Moritz Roth
Moritz Roth
Moritz Roth was a Swiss pathologist remembered for describing Roth's spots. He studied medicine at Würzburg, Göttingen, Berlin and Basel, where he received his doctorate in 1864...
.