Markers of thrombophilia in retinal vein thrombosis

Purpose: To study the prevalence of risk factors for systemic thromboemboli sm in patients with retinal vein thrombosis (RVT), Methods: Fifty-four patients younger than 70 years, diagnosed with a retina l vein thrombosis at the Department of Ophthalmology, Arhus University Hosp ital, were examined for the presence of venous thrombosis risk factors. Results: 23 patients had a central RVT, 26 had a branch RVT, and 4 had a ma cular RVT Nineteen (35.2%) of the patients displayed increased levels of pl asma homocysteine, one patient (1.9%) the Factor V Leiden mutation, and one patient (1.9%) displayed an antiphospholipid antibody. All other tests for thrombophilia rendered normal. In 15 of the patients with hyperhomocystein emia, folic acid substitution returned plasma homocysteine to a normal valu e in 12 cases. Conclusion: A surprisingly high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was dete cted in this cohort of RVT patients, clearly superseding the prevalence of around 17% found in patients suffering venous thromboembolism in other vasc ular compartments. Our finding points to the likelihood that hyperhomocyste inemia may be a significant risk factor for retinal vein thrombosis.