Concurrence of iris aneurysms and cerebral hemorrhage in hypertensive rabbits
C. A. Santos-Buch, W. W. Goodhue and B. H. Ewald
The development of miliary aneurysms of the iris is associated with the
high risk of cerebral hemorrhage in rabbits with renal hypertension. The
high-risk group of hypertensive rabbits in this series was characterized by
the formation of iris aneurysms, and this group developed a striking
proportion of hemorrhagic strokes (42.5%). In the low-risk group of
hypertensive rabbits that did not develop aneurysms of the iris, only a low
proportion of cerebral hemorrhages were found (11%). The development of
iris aneurysms in rabbits was directly proportional to increments in level
of blood pressure, and their rate of formation was very rapid. The
formation of miliary aneurysms of the circular artery of the iris in
hypertensive rabbits is likely related to the common embryologic origin and
the morphologic similarity between perforating arteries of the brain and
the principal arterial vessel of the iris.
