title: Is elevated level of soluble endothelial protein C receptor a new risk factor for retinal vein occlusion?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the systemic and thrombophilic risk factors for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to determine whether the elevated level of soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) is a risk factor for thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, 56 patients with central RVO (CRVO), 26 patients with branch RVO (BRVO) and 78 healthy sex- and age-matched subjects were enrolled. Following ophthalmological examination, venous blood was analysed for glucose, lipid profile, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, factor VIII, protein C activity, protein S activity, activated protein C resistance, antithrombin III activity, lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin antibody, anti-phospholipid antibody, sEPCR, factor V Leiden mutation and prothrombin G20210A mutation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apart from hypertension, glaucoma, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine and factor VIII, elevated levels of sEPCR were found to be a risk factor for CRVO (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.007-1.028; P = 0.001). Patients with CRVO had significantly higher levels of sEPCR than those with BRVO and controls (respectively, 160.1 +/- 83.8, 116.8 +/- 65.2 and 111.3 +/- 60.5; P = 0.005). Moreover, 39% of patients with CRVO had levels of sEPCR more than 200 ng/mL, and only 5% of controls and 11% of patients with BRVO had similar high levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Besides known classical risk factors, elevated levels of sEPCR seem to be an important candidate risk factor for especially CRVO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadayifcilar
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eldem
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saracbasi
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcebe
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.forename: Serafettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirazli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000150:complications; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000074283:Endothelial Protein C Receptor; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); C478370:PROCR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D006710:Homocysteine; D005169:Factor VIII