Thrombophilic screening in retinal artery occlusion patients.
BACKGROUND
Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is an ischemic vascular damage of the retina, which frequently leads to sudden, mostly irreversible loss of vision. In this study, blood thrombophilic factors as well as cardiovascular risk factors were investigated for their relevance to this pathology. Thrombophilic risk factors so far not evaluated were included in the study.


METHODS
28 RAO patients and 81 matched control subjects were examined. From blood samples, protein C, protein S, antithrombinopathy, and factor V (Leiden) mutation (FV), factor II gene polymorphism, factor VIIIC level, plasminogen activity, lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen levels, hyperhomocysteinemia and presence of anticardiolipin - antiphospholipid antibodies were investigated. Possibly relevant pathologies such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were also registered. Statistical analysis by logistic regression was performed with 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
In the group of patients with RAO only the incidence of hypertension (OR: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.30-9.70, p = 0.014) as an average risk factor showed significant difference, but thrombophilic factors such as hyperfibrinogenemia (OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.29-6.57, p = 0.010) and the presence of FV (Leiden mutation) (OR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.43-10.96, p = 0.008) increased the chances of developing this disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the assumption that thrombophilia may contribute to the development of RAO besides vascular damage due to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies are needed, however, to justify the possible use of secondary prophylaxis in form of anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy.
Nagy
Valeria
V
University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Department of Ophthalmology, H-4012 Debrecen, Nagyerdei, Hungary. vnagy@dote.hu
Takacs
Lili
L
Steiber
Zita
Z
Pfliegler
György
G
Berta
Andras
A