9TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL HEMORHEOLOGY SIENA, ITALY, 28 JUNE 1 JULY 1995 - SYMPOSIUM - THERAPEUTIC HEMODILUTION - NEW TRENDS, CURRENT TECHNIQUES - LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER HEMODILUTION THERAPY IN CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Systemic hemorheologic abnormalities may play a role in the pathogenes is of central retinal vein occlusions. A statistically significant ele vation of plasma viscosity was found in patients with acute central re tinal vein occlusion compared with control patients. Local retinal blo od flow parameters including arteriovenous passage time and mean arter ial dye bolus velocity were significantly altered in the central retin al vein occlusion patients versus age matched controls at baseline exa mination. We performed a randomized, prospective, single-blind clinica l investigation to determine the effect of hemorheological manipulatio n on the clinical course and retinal blood flow of eyes with central v ein occlusion. Hemodilution included plasma expansion with hydroxyethy l-starch, withdrawal of whole blood if the hematocrit was above 42%, a nd theologic manipulation with parenteral pentoxifylline. We found a s tatistically significant improvement in visual acuity at the last foll ow-up visit 36 months post-treatment for the treated group compared wi th the control group. The retinal blood flow parameters were markedly improved soon after the institution of therapy and may have contribute d to the improved visual prognosis in the treated patient group.