title: [Systemic conditions associated with central and branch retinal artery occlusions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinal artery occlusions (RAO) are severe conditions threatening vision, affecting the subsequent mortality of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the work-up performed in all patients diagnosed with retinal artery occlusions evaluated in two university hospitals in France (Tours and Angers).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 131 patients (131 eyes) with RAO were included, with a mean age of 69.5years and male predominance (64 %). Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) resulted in poor initial visual acuity (90 % less than count fingers), whereas those with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) had better visual acuity (63.6 % better than 20/40). Systemic arterial hypertension (HTN) was the most common associated risk factor. Carotid stenosis was found in 50 % of cases, leading to endarterectomy in nine patients (6.9 %), while an underlying cardiac cause was implicated in 14 % of cases. Giant cell arteritis was diagnosed in five patients (3.8 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Work-up of RAO may detect treatable cardiovascular and systemic conditions, allowing prevention of further ocular recurrence or stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Etiologic work-up of retinal arterial occlusion can diagnose potentially treatable underlying systemic conditions, such as giant cell arteritis, cardiac conditions and extracranial cerebrovascular disease. Giant cell arteritis has to be ruled out at the acute phase, while the role and timing of semi-urgent testing (supra-aortic Doppler echography, echocardiography, electrocardiography, lab work-up) or delayed testing (transesophageal echocardiography, brain imaging) have yet to be determined.
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, université Nantes, Angers, Le Mans, CHU d'Angers, 4, rue Larrey, 49933 Angers cedex 09, France. Electronic address: socoisy@chu-angers.fr.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Coisy
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Leruez
authors: J-M
authors: JM
authors: Ebran
authors: P-J
authors: PJ
authors: Pisella
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Milea
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Arsene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Accident vasculaire cérébral; Cardiovascular risk; Carotid stenosis; Central retinal artery occlusion; Giant cell arteritis; Maladie de Horton; Occlusion de l’artère centrale de la rétine; Risque cardiovasculaire; Stroke