[Thrombolysis of arterial retinal occlusion using urokinase]

The authors present an account on possible aimed thrombolytic treatment of occlusion of the retinal artery by urokinase. Aimed thrombolysis can be performed at ophthalmological departments with an available radiodiagnostic department, which performs angiographies of carotid arteries. The authors discuss the necessary dose of 200,000 to 300,000 i.u. of urokinase. One-hour infusion with an initial booster dose is best. Early administration of the preparation is considered most important by the authors. The authors present the case-history of a 34-year-old patient with complete occlusion of the central retinal artery with haemodynamically severe aortal stenosis with a congenital background. Urokinase was administered six hours after occlusion of the artery. Gradually reperfusion of the retina occurred and improvement of the visual acuity from 0.01 to 0.17 with a residual relative wedge-shaped loss of the visual field and paleness of the disc of the optic nerve.