Abnormal Systemic Findings in Patients with Acute Retinal Artery Occlusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Analyzing the systemic abnormal findings of acute retinal artery occlusion, to investigate what kinds of systemic evaluation must be performed in patients with acute retinal artery occlusion. METHODS: Thirty-three patients who had been diagnosed as acute retinal artery occlusion from July 1996 to June 2001 at Kyungpook National University Hospital were evaluated. Routine blood test, carotid doppler ultrasonography, echocardiography, routine anticoagulation study and antithrombin III assay were performed and serum protein S and protein C levels of these patients were checked. RESULTS: Seventeen of 33 were diagnosed as central retinal artery occlusion, 2 as ophthalmic artery occlusion, 10 as branch retinal artery occlusion, 4 as cilioretinal artery occlusion. Sixteen of 33 patients (48%) had abnormal findings on these systemic evaluation. Twenty-two patients had carotid doppler ultrasonography. Twelve of these 22 patients (54%) had atherosclerotic plaque in their carotid artery, and hemodynamically significant carotid stenosis (> or =60% of lumen) was found in six patients (27%). Only one patient had decreased serum levels of protein S and protein C. Two patients had abnormal findings of echocardiography. One patient had elevated serum hemoglobin and hematocrit, and so he was transferred to department of hematology and diagnosed as secondary polycythemia (Table 2). CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with acute retinal artery occlusion had various systemic disease. So, it is suggested that systemic evaluation of acute retinal artery occlusion be performed.