BILATERAL CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION AND LUPUS ANTICOAGULANT ANTIBODY

A care of central retinal vein occlusion with second development of th e same type of retinal vein occlusion in the fellow eye, is reported. The patient was a 68 year-old man with a history of thyroid gland diso rder and a cardiac arrhythmia. He presented also with bilateral tilted disc. The first eye occlusion was initially nonischemic, bur converte d secondarily into an ischemic type and required laser panretinal phot ocoagulation. The biological assay found the presence of anticoagulant antibodies and rheological findings lupus (major plasma hyperviscosit y, increased erythrocyte aggregation, high hematocrit and fibrinogen l evels). The patient was given high doses of troxerutin, and aspirin. C entral retinal vein occlusion occurred in the fellow eye one year late r, a jr,, weeks after the decrease of troxerutin doses. Hemodilution t herapy was performed and visual acuity remained unchanged. Unusual ris k factors for retinal vein occlusion are discussed Lupus anticoagulant antibodies may sometimes lead to occlusive vascular phenomenon. Altho ugh these antibodies are Mot commonly found in retinal vascular occlus ion they may constitute a contributory factor. Tilted disc has often b een involved in the pathogenesis of central retinal vein occlusion. Fi nally, abnormal rheological findings, major in this case, are found in move than half of the cases of retinal vein occlusion.