[Retinal vascular changes and haemostatic function in young patients (author's transl)]

Haemostatic function was studied in 40 patients between one and 12 months from the occurrence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO); 25 patients aged 40 years, or less and 15 were more than 45 years old. The following tests were performed : plasma beta-thromboglobuline (beta-TG) fibrinopeptide A (FpA), PTT, spontaneous in vitro platelet aggregation (SpA), circulating platelet aggregates (CPA), platelet retention (PR) to glass beads, serum thromboxane B2 (TxB2). In the group of older patients, there was a significant increase of beta-TG, FpA, PR, SPA, TxB2, and a reduction in the PTT. CPA was not significantly changed. In the group of younger patients (less than 40 yrs) only FpA and beta TG levels showed significant differences from the control group of age-matched healthy subjects. These findings suggest that the alterations present in older patients are likely to be secondary to generalized vascular damage, whereas a state of activation of the coagulation system appears to be present in younger patients with RVO.