Which ocular finding is associated with infective endocarditis?

Which ocular finding is associated with infective endocarditis?

• A. Cherry-red spot
• B. Cotton-wool spot
• C. Roth spots
• D. Hard exudates

Answer: (C)

Roth spots are retinal hemorrhages with a pale or white center, representing a microinfarct with a fibrin-platelet core. In infective endocarditis, septic or immune complex–mediated processes can cause retinal microinfarcts, producing these hemorrhages with central whitening. This association makes Roth spots the ocular finding most linked to IE. In contrast, a cherry-red spot points to central retinal artery occlusion, cotton-wool spots reflect nerve fiber layer ischemia from conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and hard exudates arise from chronic retinal edema such as diabetic retinopathy.

Roth spots are retinal hemorrhages with a pale or white center, representing a microinfarct with a fibrin-platelet core. In infective endocarditis, septic or immune complex–mediated processes can cause retinal microinfarcts, producing these hemorrhages with central whitening. This association makes Roth spots the ocular finding most linked to IE. In contrast, a cherry-red spot points to central retinal artery occlusion, cotton-wool spots reflect nerve fiber layer ischemia from conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and hard exudates arise from chronic retinal edema such as diabetic retinopathy.