Association of exfoliation syndrome and central retinal vein occlusion: an ultrastructural analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prospectively the frequency with which exfoliation syndrome (XFS) occurs in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) by clinical examination and ultrastructural examination of conjunctival biopsy specimens.


METHODS
Prospective observational case series. Thirty-six eyes of 36 consecutive patients with CRVO were investigated for XFS by slit-lamp examination and conjunctival biopsy when XFS was not clinically visible on examination.


RESULTS
A clinical diagnosis of XFS or a positive biopsy result for exfoliation material (XFM) was present in 22 of the 36 patients (61%; 95% confidence interval 45-75%). Twelve of these 22 patients (54%) had a clinical diagnosis of XFS. Aggregates of XFM were identified ultrastructurally in the biopsy specimens in 10 of 24 patients with no clinical signs of XFS (42%). Patients with and without XFS had similar distribution of age, gender, race and prevalence of systemic disorders. Twelve of the 22 (54%) XFS patients had neither glaucoma nor ocular hypertension prior to the CRVO.


CONCLUSIONS
In accordance with previous retrospective and histological studies, this prospective, in vivo study suggests that CRVO is commonly associated with XFS.
Ritch
Robert
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Einhorn Clinical Research Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York City 10003, USA. ritchmd@earthlink.net
Prata
Tiago S
TS
de Moraes
Carlos Gustavo V
CG
Vessani
Roberto M
RM
Costa
Vital P
VP
Konstas
Anastasios G P
AG
Liebmann
Jeffrey M
JM
Schlötzer-Schrehardt
Ursula
U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*