title: Haemorheology in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion with and without risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was carried out to ascertain the role of blood viscosity in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with and without risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 292 patients with acute BRVO (mean age 65 +/- 10 years) and 292 controls matched for gender, age, and cardiovascular risk factors, haematocrit, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation and erythrocyte rigidity were measured. A subgroup analysis in patients with and without risk factors was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haematocrit and plasma viscosity values were significantly higher in BRVO patients than in controls, but erythrocyte rigidity and erythrocyte aggregation did not differ. Subgroup analysis revealed no differences in haematocrit and plasma viscosity values between patients with and those without cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows increased plasma viscosity and haematocrit values in patients with BRVO which are not associated with the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors. Thus, changes in blood fluidity appear to be important factors in the pathogenesis of BRVO.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik der Medizinischen Fakultät der RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remky
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors