Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in central serous chorioretinopathy

PURPOSE: To describe the plasma level of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, the major antifibrinolytic agent, in eyes with central serous chorioretino pathy, in which choroidal thrombosis is suspected as the underlying conditi on based on the findings of choroidal hyperpermeability in indocyanine gree n angiograms. METHODS: Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentrations in the plasma of 17 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy were measured by enzyme-l inked immunosorbent assay and compared with those in 12 age matched normal volunteers. RESULTS: The plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (range, 25 to 439 ng/ml; median, 87 ng/ml) were significantly increased compared with those in normal volunteer s (range, 7 to 84 ng/ml; median, 36 ng/ml) (P = .0013, Mann-Whitney U test) . CONCLUSION: Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentrations in p atients with central serous chorioretinopathy support the hypothesis that t he choroidal hyperpermeability disclosed by indocyanine green angiography i s caused from impaired fibrinolysis and the resulting thrombotic occlusion in the choroidal veins, (Am J Ophthalmol 1999;127:477-478, (C) 1999 by Else vier Science Inc. All rights reserved.).