ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY AND ACTIVATED PROTEIN-C RESISTANCE- A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is a well-descr ibed entity that is believed to be caused by abnormal anatomy of the o ptic disc and to be precipitated by several stressors or disease state s. Activated protein C resistance (APCR) is a recently described mutat ion of factor V (FV) gene that renders FV resistant to cleavage by act ivated protein C. APCR predisposes to thrombotic events. The case of a 61-year-old woman with AION and activated protein C resistance is pre sented, and the management is discussed. We thoroughly review the lite rature on these two conditions. We propose that a prospective analysis of the potential role of APCR in some cases of AION is needed and sug gest that physicians consider this and other prothombotic states when evaluating patients with AION.