Optic disc hemorrhages and generalized vascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between optic disc hemorrhages and four different groups of medications used in general vascular disease and diabetes.


METHODS
The authors screened citizens of the city of Malmö, Sweden who were between 57 and 79 years old (32,918 subjects), in order to find individuals with undetected glaucoma. One set of optic disc photographs was taken of each participant and examined for optic disc hemorrhages. Logistic regression was used, with platelet aggregation inhibitors, antihypertensive agents, cholesterol-lowering medication, and antidiabetic agents as independent variables that were tested in isolation as well as in various combinations and adjusted for age and gender.


RESULTS
Optic disc hemorrhages were significantly more common in individuals taking platelet aggregation inhibitors (OR 3.16, P < 0.0001). There was no significant association between ODH and the other three groups of medications.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant relationship between platelet aggregation inhibitors and optic disc hemorrhages is a new and interesting finding that could indicate an association between optic disc hemorrhages and generalized vascular disease. Alternatively, it could mean that platelet aggregation inhibitors prolong resorption of or predispose to optic disc hemorrhages.
Department of Ophthalmology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Kirsti
K
Grødum
Anders
A
Heijl
Bo
B
Bengtsson
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors