Role of rheologic factors in patients with acute central retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the rheologic findings in acute central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with respect to associated risk factors, the clinical appearance of ischemic or nonischemic CRVO, and to elucidate the etiology of possible changes.


METHODS
The authors enrolled 173 patients with acute CRVO (ischemic, 33%; nonischemic, 67%) in this prospective study. One hundred seventy-three patients who were matched for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors served as control subjects. All patients underwent testing to determine hematocrit values, plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte aggregation (SEA), and erythrocyte rigidity (SER).


RESULTS
Hemocrit values and PV were increased significantly (P<0.01) in patients with ischemic and nonischemic CRVO compared with control subjects but did not differ significantly between the two groups. No significant differences were found in SEA and SER values between the clinical subsets of patients with CRVO and when the patients were compared with matched control subjects. Analysis revealed that hemocrit and PV values were (P<0.001) increased significantly independent of associated cardiovascular risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that increased hemocrit and PV values may be contributing factors in the pathogenesis of CRVO.
Arend
O
O
Augenklinik der Med. Fak. der RWTH Aachen, Germany.
Remky
A
A
Jung
F
F
Kiesewetter
H
H
Reim
M
M
Wolf
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012169:Retinal Vein; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors