Selective Thrombophilia Screening in Young Patients with Retinal Artery Occlusion

Ophthalmologica. 2016;235(4):189-94. doi: 10.1159/000446028. Epub 2016 May 13.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of various thrombophilic disorders among young patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

Procedures: We retrospectively reviewed thrombophilia screening data of young patients ≤60 years of age with RAO and healthy controls matched for gender and age.

Results: Thrombophilia screening data of 25 young patients and 62 healthy controls were analyzed. Mean patient age by the time of the RAO was 43.3 ± 10.8 years. Overall, thrombophilic defects were found to be present in 17 patients (68%) compared with 11 of 62 controls (17.7%; p < 0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant association between the development of RAO and increased levels of lipoprotein(a) (odds ratio: 9.48; p = 0.001) and factor VIII (odds ratio: 6.41; p = 0.024). There was a strong association between the presence of thrombophilic disorders and a personal or family history of thromboembolism (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Our results indicate that screening for thrombophilic disorders among selected young patients with RAO yields positive results in a high percentage of cases.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Coagulation Tests
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / complications
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / diagnosis
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / epidemiology*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Thrombophilia / complications
  • Thrombophilia / diagnosis*
  • Thrombophilia / epidemiology
  • Young Adult