ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES IN RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSIONS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 75 PATIENTS

Objective: To assess the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with occlusive retinal vascular disorders. Patients: Seventy- five consecutive patients (44 with central retinal vein occlusions, 24 with branch venous occlusions, five with vasculitis plus branch venou s occlusion, and two with arterial occlusions) were screened for antip hospholipid antibodies and compared with a control group composed of o utpatients with similar systemic vascular disorders. Results: The anti body assay for one patient was positive for lupus anticoagulant and th e antibody assay for three other patients was positive for anticardiol ipin antibodies. These four patients had central or branch retinal vei n occlusion and presented with several vascular risk factors. Comparis on of the retinal vascular occlusion and the control groups showed no difference in the levels of anticardiolipin antibodies or lupus antico agulant. Conclusions: Antiphospholipid antibodies did not seem to be a feature of retinal vein occlusion, but in rare cases (5%) they may co ntribute to the occlusive phenomenon. A systematic screening does not seem to be justified, but it may be valuable to test for antiphospholi pid antibodies in patients without conventional risk factors and in pa tients with clotting screen abnormalities, particularly if associated with lupuslike syndrome or other elements of the primary antiphospholi pid syndrome.