title: Coronary catheterisation does not lead to retinal artery emboli in short-term follow-up of cardiac patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is emerging evidence that coronary catheterization can cause cerebrovascular embolization. We aimed to assess the proportion of cardiac patients with retinal emboli before coronary catheterization and the proportion with newly developed retinal embolism shortly after coronary catheterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven patients attending Westmead Hospital for coronary catheterization between December 2005 and February 2006 were recruited. Medical history, physical examination, and pre- and postcatheterization photography of 5 retinal fields was performed. The proportion of patients with new retinal emboli was assessed by comparing post- and precatheterization retinal photographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before catheterization, retinal emboli were observed in 5 patients (5.2%) and were significantly associated with higher body mass index (P=0.007). The presence of angiographic coronary artery disease was not significantly associated with preexisting retinal emboli. In 97 patients, we found no new emboli within the 16-hour (median: range 4 to 45 hours) postcoronary catheterization period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic retinal emboli are relatively common in patients being assessed for coronary artery disease. We found no evidence suggesting coronary catheterization contributes to retinal embolism shortly after the procedure.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thyer
authors.forename: Pramesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovoor
authors.forename: Jie Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bronwen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kifley
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Aravinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiagalingam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015984:Causality; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors