Antiphospholipid antibodies in ocular arterial and venous occlusive disease.
OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to evaluate antiphospholipid antibodies (APA), i.e. lupus anticoagulants (LA) and anticardiolipin (ACA) IgG and IgM, in ophthalmic occlusive disease.


METHODS
Over a 3.5-year period, APA were evaluated in 368 patients.


RESULTS
Eighty-six patients (23.4%), compared to 5% in the general population, tested positive for APA. APA did not differ significantly between patients with venous (20.6%) or arterial (25.5%) occlusive disease. This included 93 patients with central retinal vein occlusion (18% APA positive), 67 with retinal branch vein occlusion (24% APA positive), 41 with central retinal artery occlusion (22% APA positive), 53 with retinal branch artery occlusion (32% APA positive), 71 with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (23% APA positive), 12 with posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (33% APA positive) and 31 patients with amaurosis fugax (23% APA positive). Excluding patients with accepted main risk factors, APA were positive in 15.3% of 85 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The high APA prevalence confirms its relevance in ocular occlusive disorders.
Palmowski-Wolfe
Anja M
AM
Eye Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. palmowskiA@uhbs.ch
Denninger
Elke
E
Geisel
Jurgen
J
Pindur
Gerhard
G
Ruprecht
Klaus W
KW
D000368:Aged; D020757:Amaurosis Fugax / Q000276:immunology; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000276:immunology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000276:immunology*; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000276:immunology*
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor