Treatment of central retinal vein occlusion by injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein.
OBJECTIVE
To report the injection of tissue plasminogen activator into a retinal vein to treat central retinal vein occlusion.


METHODS
An 81-year-old woman with visual loss of the right eye secondary to central retinal vein occlusion developed central retinal vein occlusion and visual loss in her left eye. Treatment of her left eye with topical ocular hypotensive medications, pentoxifylline, and laser chorioretinal anastomosis was without benefit. Thereafter, she underwent vitreoretinal surgery, including tissue plasminogen activator injection into a branch retinal vein of her left eye.


RESULTS
The patient reported subjective improvement in the vision of her left eye. Ophthalmoscopic and fluorescein angiographic improvement were also noted.


CONCLUSIONS
The feasibility of cannulating a retinal vein for treatment has been demonstrated.
J N
JN
Weiss
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator