AV nicking

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AV, or atreovenous nicking is the phenomenon where, on ophthalmologic examination, an arteriole is seen crossing a venule resulting in impaction of the vein with bulging on either side of the crossing. This is most commonly seen in hypertensive retinopathy.

It is thought that, since the arteriole and venule share a sheath, the arteriole's thicker walls push against those of the venule forcing the venule to collapse. This makes the venule form an hourglass shape around the arteriole. Other theories suggest that this results not from compression from the arteriole but from sclerotic thickening or glial cell proliferation at the site where the two vessels cross. ^[1]

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