PSEUDOEXFOLIATION SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WI TH BRANCH AND CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN-THROMBOSIS

Background Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a frequent cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma due to deposition and in situ-production of abnor mal extracellular matrix proteins in the trabecular meshwork. Glaucoma s itself are a known risk factor for retinal vein thrombosis. III this retrospective study the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome in p atients with branch and central retinal vein thrombosis was investigat ed. Patients and methods The records of 332 unselected patients with b ranch retinal vein thrombosis and 159 with central retinal vein thromb osis, which were seen in our laser out patient clinic between January 1990 and July 1996, were analysed retrospectively. Results 6.0% of pat ients with branch and 6.9% of patients with central retinal vein throm bosis revealed pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The full picture of pseudoe xfoliation syndrome was seen in 4.2% of patients with branch and in 4. 4% of patients with central retinal vein thrombosis. The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome increased with age. Twenty percent of pati ents with branch and 27% of patients with central retinal vein thrombo sis had various types of glaucoma. The prevalence of glaucoma was 61.5 % in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and branch or central re tinal vein thrombosis. The branch retinal vein thrombosis was signific antly more often localised at the disk in patients with glaucoma and i n patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Conclusions Pseudoexfoliat ion syndrome is a risk factor for retinal vein thrombosis. Pathogeneti cally the secondary open angle glaucoma caused by pseudoexfoliation sy ndrome could be causative for the venous thrombosis.