Central retinal-artery occlusion in a patient with circulating lupus anticoagulant

The circulating lupus anticoagulant is a spontaneously acquired immunoglobulin that has been associated in vivo with an increased risk of thrombotic episodes. We describe the case of a young woman with central retinal-artery occlusion associated with circulating lupus anticoagulant in the absence of systemic lupus erythematosus or any other autoimmune or collagen vascular disease. In cases of central retinal-artery occlusion without apparent cause, the presence of the lupus anticoagulant should be excluded especially in cases that have been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus.