Abstract
Purpose :
Following retinal vascular occlusion as well as after ischemic optic neuropathy, patients have an increased risk of cerebrovascular accidents. These diseases share a similar risk profile. However, the role of isolated risk factors has not been clarified. The aim of this observational prospective study was to assess the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and carotid artery disease (CAD) in patients with acute retinal artery occlusion (RAO), retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Methods :
101 patients were prospectively included. All patients were admitted and underwent a standardized investigation including 12-lead 7-day holter ECG and duplex ultrasonography of the carotid arteries as well as thoroughly history, physical examination, blood test, echocardiography and 24h blood pressure measurement. Other risk factors such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, smoker, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were documented.
Results :
Twenty-five patients had RAO, 49 patients had RVO and a NAION was diagnosed in 27 patients. We assessed AF in 4/25 (16%) in RAO, 9/49 (18.4%) in RVO and in 4/27 (14.8%) of NAION patients. Of these cases, AF was newly detected with the 7-day holter ECG in 25%, 44.4% and 25%, respectively. A severe CAD, defined as occlusion of more than 50%, was found in 24% of RAO, 4.1% of RVO, and 3.7% of NAION patients.
Conclusions :
The incidence of AF, especially, and CAD among this cohort of patients was higher than in general population. Particularly relevant was the newly diagnosed AF with the 7-day holter ECG. Detecting these risk factors in patients with acute RAO, RVO and NAION might be relevant in order to prevent further vascular events.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.