Beyond trauma, which systemic condition is a common underlying cause of vitreous hemorrhage?

Beyond trauma, which systemic condition is a common underlying cause of vitreous hemorrhage?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Diabetes mellitus
• C. Hyperlipidemia
• D. Renal disease

Answer: (B)

Non-traumatic vitreous hemorrhage is most commonly driven by proliferative diabetic retinopathy from long-standing diabetes. Chronic high blood sugar damages the retinal microvasculature, causing ischemia that triggers VEGF-driven growth of new, fragile retinal vessels. These vessels are prone to rupture into the vitreous, producing sudden floaters or vision loss. While hypertension, lipid disorders, and renal disease affect blood vessels, they are less directly associated with the sort of neovascular bleeding that leads to a vitreous hemorrhage compared with diabetic retinopathy. So, diabetes mellitus is the underlying systemic condition most likely to cause a vitreous hemorrhage in the absence of trauma.

Non-traumatic vitreous hemorrhage is most commonly driven by proliferative diabetic retinopathy from long-standing diabetes. Chronic high blood sugar damages the retinal microvasculature, causing ischemia that triggers VEGF-driven growth of new, fragile retinal vessels. These vessels are prone to rupture into the vitreous, producing sudden floaters or vision loss. While hypertension, lipid disorders, and renal disease affect blood vessels, they are less directly associated with the sort of neovascular bleeding that leads to a vitreous hemorrhage compared with diabetic retinopathy. So, diabetes mellitus is the underlying systemic condition most likely to cause a vitreous hemorrhage in the absence of trauma.