title: [Central retinal occlusion in the course of idiopathic carotid-cavernous fistula].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study presents the case history of a 58-year-old woman with a diagnosed spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula on the left side and mild hypertension.
  Headache, double vision, proptosis, ptosis of the left upper lid, paresis of the left abducens nerve, conjunctival edema, dilatation and tortuosity of the vessels in conjunctiva and episclera. In the course of this disease a massive central retinal vein occlusion occurred in the left eye. The angiography demonstrated carotid-cavernous fistula on the left side with pathological blood flow. Embolization of the fistula was attempted, but it was not successful. During 6 months of follow up, the signs of central retinal vein occlusion and other manifestations disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula should be considered as one of the contributing factors of the central retinal vein occlusion, particularly in menopausal women with concomitant arterial hypertension. The significant reduction of neurological and ophthalmological symptoms and signs may suggest, that arteriovenous shunt is closed.
authors.affiliation: II Kliniki Okulistyki Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Katski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matysik
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Belniak
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szajner
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munir
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojczal
mesh_terms: D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D021721:Balloon Occlusion; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy