Magnetic Resonance Angiographic findings of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate magnetic resonance angiographic findings of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) patients. METHODS: In 14 CRAO patients who had admitted in our hospital from 1996 to 2001, retrospective studies were done. All patients were checked head and neck magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), echocardiography, and systemic examination including blood test. RESULTS: There were a stenosis (6 cases) or occlusion (3 cases) of carotid artery in 9 of 14 persons. In CRAO patients, there were increasement of serum LDL-cholesterol and decreasement of cardiac ejection fraction as compared with normal group. In the group with carotid arterial lesion, serum LDL-cholesterol was increased and cardiac ejection fraction was decreased as compared with the group without carotid arterial lesion, but there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Large amounts of CRAO patients have carotid arterial stenosis, so MRA and brain MRI are needed in CRAO patient to evaluate carotid arterial lesion as well as intracranial lesion. If the lesion is identified, it is prefered to take appropriate treatment. More study is needed about importances of increased LDL-cholesterol and decreased ejection fraction in CRAO patient.