title: Thrombolysis for central retinal artery occlusion.
abstract: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) frequently causes severe and irreversible visual loss. For many years, various conservative treatments have been proposed for acute CRAO, but their efficacy remains unproven. Over the past 20 years, CRAO has also been treated with thrombolytic agents administered intravenously or intra-arterially. However, all thrombolytic studies are retrospective and uncontrolled, so that the benefit of this treatment remains uncertain. A prospective controlled clinical trial is ongoing in Europe and should provide more reliable information. Even if this trial demonstrates a benefit, thrombolytic treatment is unlikely to become widespread in the management of CRAO unless it can be deployed quickly after the event.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Neuro-ophthalmology Unit, Emory University, 1365-B Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. vbiouss@emory.edu
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Biousse
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Calvetti
authors: Beau B
authors: BB
authors: Bruce
authors: Nancy J
authors: NJ
authors: Newman
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents