CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF AMYL NITRITE "POPPERS"

Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2024 Jan 1;18(1):138-140. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001338.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of central retinal vein occlusion in a young patient after the use of amyl nitrate "poppers."

Methods: Description of the patient's clinical history, ophthalmic examination, retinal imaging, and treatment.

Results: A 38-year-old man presented with a central retinal vein occlusion in his right eye after inhaling amyl nitrite "poppers." There appeared to be a definitive temporal association between poppers use and both the onset of the vein occlusion and the patient's visual scotomata, which recurred immediately after drug use multiple times. Optical coherence tomography displayed cystic macular edema, which was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. The patient's hypercoagulable laboratory workup was negative.

Conclusion: This is the first report of a central retinal vein occlusion associated with poppers inhalation. A high index of suspicion for poppers use should be maintained in young patients who present with retinal vein occlusion, particularly in homosexual patients with a normal laboratory workup that fails to reveal a hypercoagulable etiology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyl Nitrite / therapeutic use
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macular Edema* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion* / chemically induced
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion* / diagnosis
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion* / drug therapy
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Amyl Nitrite
  • Bevacizumab
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors