[Selective ophthalmic artery fibrinolysis in acute central retinal artery occlusion].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate efficacy and reliability of local intra-arterial fibrinolysis (LIF) in Retinal Central Artery Occlusion (RCAO).


METHODS
We have studied 12 patients with RCAO. Seven patients (group I) were treated with conventional therapy and 5 patients (group II) underwent treatment with urokinase via transcutaneous femoral catheter into the ophthalmic artery. Thereafter patients received heparin sulfate for 3 days.


RESULTS
Mean follow up was 14 months and mean time from onset of symptoms to the beginning of therapy was 11 hours. One patient in group I showed improvement of visual acuity (from counting fingers to 0.1). In all patients in group II there was angiographic evidence of improved perfusion of retinal arteries and 4 patients (80%) showed improvement in visual acuity. The best results were obtained when LIF was performed before 10 hours after onset of symptoms. No complications were observed after the fibrinolysis treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
LIF in ophtalmic arteries for the treatment of RCAO reduces dosage of fibrinolytic agents and becomes a safe and useful treatment during the first hours post RCAO.
Fernández
F J
FJ
Servicios de Oftalmología y Neurorradiología, Hospital Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
Guelbenzu
S
S
Barrena
C
C
Larrosa
J M
JM
Gonzalvo
F J
FJ
Melcon
B
B
Honrubia
F M
FM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator