Obstrucción venosa de la retina, más allá de la pérdida de visión

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the baseline characteristics of patients with a diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) seen in our department and to analyze the ophthalmologist’s attitude regarding the detection and integration of ophthalmological findings with the underlying systemic pathology. Method: Retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study of all patients diagnosed with RVO and macular edema who were treated with intravitreal therapy between January and December 2016 in our center. Baseline epidemiological characteristics, antiaggregant pre and postdiagnosis therapy, ophthalmologist’s attitude regarding referral to primary care or internal medicine specialist and cardiovascular events after diagnosis were studied. Results: A total of 66 eyes of 66 patients were included, with an average age of 67.77 ± 12.93 years, mostly women (51.51%), and with branch OVR (59.09%). Only 6 (9.09%) patients were under 50 years old and 7 (10.60%) without known cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). The most frequent risk factors were: arterial hypertension (71.21%), dyslipidemia (57.57%) and obesity (63.63%). 22.72% of the patients had previous prothrombotic diseases. Nine patients were referred to another specialist for study, of whom 3 were diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome, 1 being younger than 50 years and one without known CVRF. Of these two groups of patients, no other was referred for study. Two patients suffered cardiovascular events in the year following the diagnosis. Conclusions: A basic screening for CVRF should be performed in all patients, adding a thrombophilia study in patients under 50 years of age or those without known risk factors. It is the responsibility of the ophthalmologist to perform it or refer the patient to the appropriate specialist. Ideally, within the first two months after diagnosis.