Contributor: Gordon K. Klintworth
Arteriolosclerosis is an abnormality of the arterioles. The arterioles commonly accumulate a subendothelial homogenous eosinophilic material (arteriolar hyalinosis, hyaline arterioloscerosis) with aging, diabetes mellitus and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. In another variant of arteriolosclerosis an intimal thickening reduces the caliber of the vascular lumen (hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis, proliferative arteriolosclerosis). This occurs in malignant hypertension [hypertension - malignant], hemolytic uremic syndrome, progressive systemic sclerosis, homocystinuria, congenital rubella [rubella - congenital], malignant atrophic papulosis, chronic rejection and following radiation). Arteriolosclerosis frequently affects the retinal arterioles which reflect light and appear clinically like silver or copper wires. Arteriolosclerosis of the retina is often associated with other diseases such as hypertension.