Thrombophilic risk factors in patients with central retinal vein occlusion

Few and contra-sting, data are available on the prevalence of hemostatic ri sk factors in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Aim of t his study was to investigate the metabolic and a inherited risk factors for venous thrombosis in 100 CRVO patients (age: 59 yrs; range 18-77) and in 1 00 controls (age: 56 yrs; range 18-84). In patients homocysteine (Hey) leve ls were significantly higher than in controls and were affected by the C677 T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism (p < 0.001). The prevalences of activated protein C resistance (APCR), factor V Leiden posi tivity, elevated PAI-1 and Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in patien ts with respect to controls. At multivariate analysis, only hyperhomo-cyste inemia (OR 11, 95% Cl 36-36.2; p < 0.0001) and elevated PAI-1 levels (OR 8. 9. 95% Cl 3.5-41.3; p < 0.01), in addition to hypertension (OR 40.5. 95% Cl 8.6-188.8; p < 0.00001) and hypercholesterolemia (OR 3.1, 95% Cl 1.6-20.5; p < 0.05), were independent risk factors for CRVO. These data demonstrate a potential role of hemostatic risk factors in the pathophysiology of CRVO.