Clinical and Histopathological Features of Congenital Fibrovascular Pupillary Membranes in a Chinese Case Series

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the clinical and histopathological features of congenital fibrovascular pupillary membrane (CFPM) in Chinese patients. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed CFPM cases treated at Beijing Children's Hospital. The clinical manifestations, approaches of treatment, outcomes, and histopathological findings were collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 33 patients with CFPM were reviewed. All patients had unilateral eye involvement. A total of 21 eyes (63.64%) had a white membrane that partially covered the pupil and 12 eyes (36.36%) had a membrane that completely covered the pupil. Of the 12 eyes with a complete pupillary membrane, 6 (50%) had glaucoma. For eyes with a partial pupillary membrane, 11 eyes (52.38%) were followed up at the outpatient clinic without surgery and 10 eyes (47.62%) underwent membranectomy and pupilloplasty due to visual axis blockage. For the 12 eyes with a complete pupillary membrane, 6 eyes (50%) with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) received membranectomy and pupilloplasty combined with iridectomy, and 1 (16.67%) of these 6 eyes underwent a reoperation after 5 months due to a recurrent membrane. Furthermore, 6 eyes (50%) with glaucoma had membranectomy, pupilloplasty, iridectomy, and goniosynechialysis. Among these 6 eyes, 2 eyes (33.33%) underwent a reoperation due to the recurrence of a membrane and 4 eyes (66.67%) had a pale optic disc. The histopathological findings revealed that these membranes were mainly composed of fibrous tissue, lymphocytes, pigment epithelial cells, and vascular tissues. Conclusions: CFPM has diverse manifestations, including a partial pupillary membrane, a complete pupillary membrane with normal IOP, and a complete pupillary membrane with glaucoma. Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical when the visual axis is blocked and/or the IOP is high. [ J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus . 2021;58(2):105–111.]