title: Normal retinal vasculature despite familial protein C deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is unclear whether protein C deficiency is associated with retinal venous occlusive disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Members of a protein C-deficient family, either deficient or nondeficient, with a history of nonocular venous thrombosis were included. All participants completed questionnaires regarding their medical and ophthalmic histories. Each subject underwent dilated direct ophthalmoscopic and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations by a single vitreoretinal specialist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 18 family members with a known history of nonocular thrombosis-12 with and 6 without protein C deficiency- manifested stigmas of recent or chronic retinal vascular occlusive disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed no evidence of involvement of the retinal vascular bed in a family with an increased risk of nonocular venous thrombosis attributable to the deficiency of protein C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Vermont, 199 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
authors.forename: Carla Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Vossen
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naud
authors.forename: Edwin G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Bovill
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Weissgold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D010375:Pedigree; D020151:Protein C Deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000209:etiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology