Importance of atherothrombosis or thrombophilia in acute retinal vein occlusion

Abstract

Retinal vein occlussion (RVO) is one of the retinal vascular disease which may occur due to atherosclerosis in elderly, but young patients may have connective tissue diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]) or thrombophilia. Antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant [LA], anticardiolipin [anti-CL]) are well-known risk factors for thrombotic complications in SLE. We present a case of SLE with RVO. A 57-year-old woman was admitted with decreasing of visual acuity (VA) in the right eye. She did not have diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Malar rash was found in the face. The ophthalmoscopy and fluorescein angiography showed retinal hemorrhages. LA antibody and antinuclear antibodies were positive, and level of anti-CL was normal with high level of homocysteine. Because of detecting widespread capillary nonperfusion in her retina, VA did not change during follow-up after treatment. RVO in SLE patients has been described to be caused by thrombophilic conditions.