Clinical Course after Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in Ischemic Central Retinal Vein Obstruction

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with ischemic central retinal vein obstruction (CRVO). METHODS: The present study was conducted retrospectively on 56 eyes of 56 patients who were diagnosed with CRVO and classified according to ischemic and non-ischemic type and underwent an intravitreal bevacizumab injection. The present study measured changes in visual acuity and central macular thickness, neovascularization in the anterior segment, development of neovascular glaucoma and other clinical complications. RESULTS: The average number of bevacizumab injections in both groups was 2.07 and 1.62 in the ischemic type. No patients developed neovascular glaucoma in the non-ischemic type group, 14 of 26 eyes in the ischemic type group developed neovascular glaucoma and the mean time to diagnosis was 28.75 weeks. log MAR visual acuity of the ischemic type group prior to injection was 1.56 +/- 0.65 on average which improved to 1.44 +/- 0.97 (p = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection improves the condition of cystic macular edema clinically, but does not affect the development of neovascular glaucoma and improvement of visual acuity in ischemic type CRVO.

Bilateral Central Retinal Vein Occlusion in Patient with Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) as one of the initial signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old woman with a history of pregnancy-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presented to our hospital with bilateral visual loss. On her initial visit, visual acuity was counting fingers at 30 cm in both eyes. Based on the findings of a funduscopic examination, the patient was diagnosed with bilateral CRVO. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of DIC combined with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Plasma exchange and transfusion of cryoprecipitate with fresh frozen plasma was performed. The ocular fundus findings did not improve. Despite medical treatment, the patient's systemic condition deteriorated and she died of metabolic acidosis two weeks later. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral central retinal vein occlusion occurred as a sign of aggravation of preexisting TTP and progression to DIC in the presented case. In patients with severe bilateral retinal venous changes, there should be a very high level of suspicion for presence or progression of systemic disease, with the possibility of effective early systemic evaluation and therapy.

Comparison of Risk Factors Associated with Central and Branch Retinal Vein Obstruction

Central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO) are the most common retinal vascular diseases. Althouht the pathogenesis of these two dieseases are different, the clinical features are similiar. In this paper, we studied on several factors such as sex, age, laterality, refractive error, intraocular pressure(IOP) and, systemic diseases(56 eyes of CRVO group and 128 eyes of BRVO group). In BRVO hroup, female, above 50 years old, bilaterality and hyperopia(above +3.0D) are more frequent than in CRVO group. In CRVO group, high IOP and below 40 years old are more frequent than in BRVO group. The hing incidence of female in BRVO group(P=0.034) and the high incidence of high IOP in CRVO group(P=0.011) are statistically significant. Diabetes melitus, glucose intolerance, tuberculosis, and syphilis are more frequently associated in CRVO group than in BRVO group, whereas hypertension and heart disease are more frequently associated in BRVO group. An abnormal level in CRP, VDRL and PTT are higher in CRVO group than in BRVO. On the other hand, the incidences of abnormal lipid profile, Hb A2 fraction and RA are higher in BRVO group than in CRVO. In cases of CRVO, the incidence of hypertension is higher in patients of 50 years old or older than in patients do 49 years old or younger, In cases of BRVO, the incidence of heart disease in patients of 50 years old or older is higher than in patients of 49 years old or younger, which both diseases are statistically significant(P<0.05).