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[Carotid artery disease in patients with retinal vein and artery occlusion]
1Department of Neurology, Kumamoto City Hospital.
Insights
Patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) show more carotid artery disease than those with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). This includes more plaque, occlusion, and heterogeneous plaque, with ulcerated plaque only in RAO patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Retinal vascular occlusive events, including retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and retinal artery occlusion (RAO), are associated with cerebrovascular disease.
- Carotid artery disease is a significant risk factor for stroke and other vascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence and characteristics of carotid artery disease in patients diagnosed with RVO versus RAO.
- To investigate the association between specific carotid artery findings and the type of retinal occlusion.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 41 RVO patients and 59 RAO patients underwent neurological examination and carotid ultrasound.
- Carotid ultrasound assessed for plaque presence, echogenicity, degree of stenosis, and ulceration.
Main Results:
- Carotid plaque or occlusion was significantly more frequent in RAO patients compared to RVO patients on both ipsilateral (p < 0.01) and contralateral (p < 0.001) sides.
- Heterogeneous plaque was also more common in RAO patients (ipsilateral: p < 0.01, contralateral: p < 0.02).
- Ulcerated carotid plaque was exclusively observed in the RAO group.
Conclusions:
- Carotid artery disease is more prevalent in patients experiencing retinal artery occlusion than in those with retinal vein occlusion.
- The findings suggest a stronger link between RAO and significant carotid atherosclerosis, including potentially higher-risk plaque characteristics.
Abstract:
To evaluate carotid artery disease in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and with retinal artery occlusion (RAO), 41 RVO patients (male 21, female 20, mean age 63 +/- 12 years) and 59 RAO patients (male 39, female 20, mean age 66 +/- 12 years) were investigated. All patients were examined neurologically and underwent carotid ultrasound examination. Using carotid ultrasound, carotid artery disease was evaluated in terms of presence of plaque, echogenicity of the plaque, degree of stenosis, or presence of ulceration. Carotid plaque or occlusion of the carotid artery was observed more frequently in RAO patients than in RVO patients (ipsilateral side: p < 0.01, contralateral side: p < 0.001; Fisher's exact test). Heterogeneous plaque was found more frequently in RAO patients compared to RVO patients (ipsilateral side: p < 0.01, contralateral side: p < 0.02; Fisher's exact test). Ulcerated plaque was found only in patients with RAO. In conclusion, carotid artery disease was more frequently found in patients with RAO than in patients with RVO.