title: Retinal tears after posterior vitreous detachment and vitreous hemorrhage in patients on systemic anticoagulants.
abstract: AIMS OR PURPOSE: To determine the rate of retinal tears (RTs) after posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and vitreous hemorrhage (VH) in patients on systemic anticoagulants.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 260 eyes of 260 patients with an acute PVD and VH were followed for evidence of an RT or detachment. Patients were divided into those taking systemic anticoagulants and those not taking anticoagulants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 137 patients (53%) were taking anticoagulants, 123 (47%) were not. Overall, 72% of patients not taking any anticoagulant had evidence of an RT, whereas 46% of patients taking an anticoagulant had an RT (P-value 0.0002). Also, 37% of patients not taking an anticoagulant had a retinal detachment (RD), whereas 23% of patients taking any anticoagulant had an RD (P-value 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with an acute PVD and VH using anticoagulants, RTs and RDs were common. Anticoagulation status may be an important contributing factor in predicting the incidence of an RT or detachment.
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Eye Institute and University of Cincinnati Department of Ophthalmology, Cincinnati, OH 45242, USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Sanhouri
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trichopoulos
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Riemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors