Etiologies of Retinal Vasculitides by Vascular Compartment

Arterial Retinal Vasculitis

Giant cell arteritis is the most common arteritic cause, affecting medium and large extracranial arteries, resulting in occlusive intimal hyperplasia that can lead to central retinal artery occlusion and arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy 1
Systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with arterial or mixed arteriovenous vasculitis, with patients having a 3.5-fold increased incidence of retinal vascular occlusions 2
Autoimmune disorders beyond those listed can rarely manifest as arterial vasculitis, particularly in the setting of combined arterial and venous occlusions 3

Sarcoidosis commonly presents with venous involvement and may be associated with branch retinal vein occlusion 4
Retinal phlebitis may be associated with branch retinal vein occlusion, though it is critical to distinguish true inflammatory phlebitis from thrombotic/embolic retinal vein occlusions, which are not primary vasculitides 2