title: Effect of isovolaemic haemodilution on visual outcome in branch retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of isovolaemic haemodilution therapy (IHT) in the treatment of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting with BRVO between 1 July 1991 and 31 August 1993 were eligible for inclusion and randomised into treatment and control groups. Patients randomised to receive IHT were treated for 6 weeks with venesection and volume replacement using hydroxyethylstarch, a plasma expander. The target haematocrit was 35%. Follow up was for 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline visual acuity of the two groups was similar at 0.74 and 0.75 logMAR units (Snellen 6/36), for the IHT and control groups, respectively. At 6 weeks, visual acuity in the IHT group had improved by 0.20 logMAR units (2 lines on the Bailey-Lovie chart) (p = 0.0001). Vision was unchanged in the control group. At 1 year, the IHT group exhibited an improvement of 0.43 logMAR units. By comparison, the improvement in the control group at 1 year was significantly less at 0.17 logMAR units (p = 0.03). The final visual acuity in the IHT and control groups was 0.30 (Snellen 6/12) and 0.60 (Snellen 6/24) logMAR units, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support the theory that IHT has a positive effect on the visual outcome in patients with BRVO.
authors.affiliation: Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luckie
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kohner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006438:Hemodilution; D006801:Humans; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018962:Phlebotomy; D010952:Plasma Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000628:therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D010952:Plasma Substitutes