[Video fluorescence angiography follow-up of patients with retinal stasis syndrome]

Forty-four patients were examined by video-fluorescein angiography. With the onset of the first symptoms a significant decrease in retinal blood flow was determined by prolonged arteriovenous passage time (AVP) and diminution of mean dye bolus velocity (MDV). No correlation could be found between the extent of impeded retinal perfusion in the acute phase and the severity of the clinical appearance. In 35 of the 44 patients a favorable clinical course was observed. An initially markedly reduced retinal perfusion improved under treatment by isovolemic or hypervolemic hemodilution, fibrinolysis, and panretinal laser coagulation, and remained stationary during the further course of time. Complete normalization of the AVP and the MDV could not be found in any of these patients. Sixteen percent of the patients with retinal stasis syndrome developed hemorrhagic central venous thrombosis. In the authors' opinion videoangiographic follow-up of patients with retinal stasis syndrome is essential for early detection of further-reduced retinal perfusion. It may thus be possible to prevent the transition to hemorrhagic central retinal vein occlusion in these cases by early treatment.