Related Experiment Videos
Thrombin-antithrombin III complex in acute retinal vein occlusion
1Department of Ophthalmology, Yamanashi Medical University, Tamaho, Japan. hiijima@res.yamanashi-med.ac.jp
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|November 20, 1998
Summary
Patients with proximal retinal vein occlusion, particularly at the optic disc, exhibit a significantly higher systemic hypercoagulable state. This indicates a greater contribution of hypercoagulability to central retinal vein thrombosis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Hematology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a significant cause of vision loss.
- The role of systemic hypercoagulable states in RVO pathogenesis is not fully understood.
- Understanding the site of occlusion may reveal differences in underlying pathophysiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate quantitative differences in systemic hypercoagulability among RVO patients based on occlusion site.
- To assess if thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels vary with proximal versus distal RVO.
Main Methods:
- Measured thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels in 57 RVO patients and 15 controls.
- Patients were assessed within one month of symptom onset.
- Occlusion site was categorized as proximal (optic disc) or distal.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher thrombin-antithrombin III complex levels were observed in proximal RVO patients compared to distal RVO and controls.
- Elevated thrombin-antithrombin III complex (>3.9 ng/ml) was more frequent in proximal RVO.
- In patients with initially high levels, values normalized over time, suggesting a transient hypercoagulable state.
Conclusions:
- A systemic hypercoagulable state, indicated by elevated thrombin-antithrombin III complex, may play a more significant role in central retinal vein occlusion.
- This hypercoagulability might be more pronounced when thrombus forms at or near the central retinal vein trunk compared to branch retinal veins.