Abstract

SO.21.05

Selective thrombophilia screening in young patients with retinal vein occlusion

Claudia Kuhli-Hattenbach1, Inge Scharrer2, Marc Lüchtenberg1, Lars-Olof Hattenbach3
1Klinik für Augenheilkunde, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main; 2Medizinische Klinik I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main; 3Augenklinik des Klinikums Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen

Purpose
The potential impact of coagulation abnormalities on retinal venous occlusive (RVO) diseases, individually and in combination with cardiovascular risk factors, remains unclear.
Methods
In a prospective case-control study a cohort of 74 young patients (£45 years at the time of the RVO or a previous thromboembolic event) with central, hemicentral or branch retinal vein occlusion and 74 subjects matched for age and sex were prospectively screened for various thrombophilic risk factors.
Results
Overall, thrombophilic defects were found to be present in 38 of the 74 patients (51,4 %) and in 8 of 74 (10.8 %) controls (P < 0.0001). We found a strong association between the presence of thrombophilic disorders and a family history of thromboembolism (P < 0.0001). Patients without cardiovascular risk factors had a statistically significant higher frequency of coagulation disorders than patients with these risk factors (P = 0.0025).
Conclusion
Our results indicate that thrombophilic disorders are associated with the development of retinal vein occlusion. Selective screening of young patients, patients with a personal or family history of thromboembolism, and patients without cardiovascular risk factors may be helpful in identifying retinal vein occlusion patients with thrombophilic defects.

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