Thrombophilic Risk Factors in Patients With Retinal Vein Occlusion Younger Than 45 Years of Age

Abstract

Purpose:: The search for thrombophilic risk factors in patients with retinal vein occlusion has brought very controversial data and there is no agreement if their evaluation could offer some benefit for patients or if it is only an academic issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of thrombophilic risk factors in patients who are less than 45 years of age.

Methods:: A cohort of 207 consecutive patients with first retinal vein occlusion and a control group of 150 subjects matched for age, sex, and several risk factors were screened from 1997 to 2005 for thrombophilic anomalies. Both cohorts were divided into two subgroups, according to the patient’s age (less and older than 45 years). We investigated the prevalence of positive factor V Leiden, antithrombin III plasma level, protein C and free protein S deficiency. The prevalence of each trombophilic risk factor in the group of patients younger than 45 years was compared with results in group of elderly patients and also with controls for statistical significance.

Results:: In patients group younger than 45 years of age the prevalence of protein C and S deficiency (in both of factors 3 of 50 patients; 6%) were significant higher than in controls (0 of 150; 0%). No statistical difference was found in the prevalence of protein C and S deficiency between controls and elderly patients as well as group of all patients. The prevalence of antithrombin III deficiency showed no difference between patients (2 of 207; 1%) and controls (0 of 150; 0%), too. Four of 50 patients younger than 45 years (8%) and 12 of 157 older than 45 years (7, 6%) had positive factor V Leiden. No significant difference in prevalence of this mutation was detected in 8 of 150 controls (5, 3%).

Conclusions:: Both deficiencies of protein S and free protein S seems to be associated with retinal vein occlusion in a group of patients younger than 45 years of age. Screening for this thrombophilic factors is therefore recommended in these patients. In elderly patients was no association between thrombophilic risk factors and retinal vein occlusion found.

Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical laboratory testing