Hollenhorst Plaques

• Cholesterol emboli which usually dislodged from the carotid arteries, or calcific fragments from a stenosed aortic valve.

Clinical Features

• Symptoms: usually give no symptoms.
• Signs:
  • Planar or flat-shaped, minute, bright, refractile, golden-yellow crystals that most commonly found at bifurcations of retinal arteries
  • Blood flow may not be disrupted because of the shape of the crystal.

Management

• Patients with atherosclerotic risk factors such as DM or hypertension require an embolic workup including echocardiography or carotid doppler
• No treatment is required.