ObjectiveTo observe the effect of interventional thrombolytic therapy for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion via supratrochlear artery retrogradely or external carotid artery anterogradely.MethodsNine CRAO patients (9 eyes) were enrolled in this study, including 5 males and 4 females. The mean age was (45.2±18.1) years. The mean onset duration was 24 hours. There were 4 eyes with vision of no light perception, 3 eyes with light perception and 2 eyes with hand movement. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) examination showed that the retinal artery was filled with delayed fluorescence. The peak of fluorescence was seen in the anterior part of the artery, and some of the eyes showed retrograde filling. The arm-retinal circulation time (A-Rct) was ≥35 s in 4 eyes, ≥35 s - ＜25 s in 5 eyes. The filling time of retinal artery and its branches (FT) was ≥15 s in 2 eyes, ≥12 s - ＜15 s in 3 eyes, ≥9 s - ＜12 s in 4 eyes. All the patients received the treatment of interventional thrombolytic therapy via supratrochlear artery retrogradely (8 eyes) or external carotid artery anterogradely (1 eye) according to the indications and contraindications of thrombolytic therapy in acute cerebral infraction patients. Urokinase (0.4 million U in total) was intermittently injected into the arteries. After artery thrombolysis, the changes of digital subtraction angiography (DSA), filling time of retinal artery and its branches on FFA within 24 hours and the visual acuity were observed. According to the A-Rct and FT on FFA, the therapeutic effects on retinal circulation were defined as effective markedly (A-Rct≤15 s, FT≤2 s) , effective (A-Rct was improved but in the range of 16 - 20 s, FT was in 3 - 8 s) and no effect (A-Rct was improved but ≥21 s, FT≥9 s). The related local or systemic complications were recorded.ResultsAfter the injection of urokinase into the catheter, the ophthalmic artery and its branches were increased in 6 eyes (66.7%), and the development of the eye ring was significantly more than that of the eyes before thrombolysis. The circulation time in ophthalmic artery was speeded up for 2 s before thrombolysis in 3 eyes, 3 s in 3 eyes, and 4 s in 2 eyes. Within 24 hours after thrombolysis treatment, the A-Rct was significantly decreased than that of before interventional therapy. The retinal circulation was effective markedly in 4 eyes (44.4%), effective in 4 eyes (44.4%) and no effect in 1 eyes (11.2%) . The vision was improved 3 lines in 4 eyes (44.4%), 2 lines in 3 eyes (33.3%), 1 line in 1 eye (11.2%) and no change in 1 eye (11.2%). There were no abnormal eye movements, vitreous hemorrhage and incision hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral embolism, and other local and systemic adverse effectives during the follow-up.ConclusionsThe interventional thrombolytic therapy via supratrochlear artery retrogradely or external carotid artery anterogradely for CRAO with the ipsilateral internal carotid artery occlusion can improve retinal circulation and vision. There are no related local or systemic complications.
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical features of retinal arterial occlusion (RAO) in youth.MethodsThis is a retrospective case review. Nine patients (9 eyes) with RAO were enrolled in this study. There were 6 males (6 eyes) and 3 females (3 eyes). The average age was (14.22±3.93) years. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed. All patients underwent systemic evaluation including blood routine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood lipids, vasculitis screening, homocysteine level, antiphospholipid antibody, blood coagulation, neck vascular ultrasound, and cardiac color ultrasound and electrocardiogram examination. All patients received oxygen therapy, blood medications and symptomatic treatment. Meanwhile, the patients with autoimmune diseases were received systemic glucocorticoid therapy. The follow-up was ranged from 6 to 12 months. The visual acuity and fundus change before and after treatment were compared.Resultsamong 9 patients, one patient had systemic lupus erythematosus, one patient had congenital heart disease, one patient had hypergammaglobulinemia, and carotid artery color ultrasonography showed that the internal carotid artery vessels faltered in 2 cases. The BCVA was 0.01 - 0.12. Among 9 eyes, there were 5 eyes (55.6%) with retinal branch artery occlusion (BRAO), 2 eyes (22.2%) with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), 2 eyes (22.2%) with ciliary retinal artery occlusion (CLAO). CRAO eyes showed positive RAPD (relative afferent pupillary defect), fine retinal artery and the corresponding vein, pale white retinal edema in posterior area and macular cherry-red spot. BRAO eyes manifested as inferior temporal artery occlusion and pale white retinal edema around them. CLAO eyes showed temporal ligulate grey-white retinal edema. At the last follow-up, BCVA improved and retinal vessels returned to normal in 7 eyes (77.8%); BCVA unchanged and no improvement in fundus in 2 eyes (22.2%).ConclusionAdolescent RAO is mostly partial occlusion, the prognosis is generally good after early active treatment.
Objective To investigate the relationship between age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI) and ischemic stroke in patients with ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) or retinal artery occlusion (RAO). MethodsA single center retrospective cohort study. Seventy-four patients with OAO or RAO diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Shenzhen Second People's Hospital from June 2004 to December 2020 were included in the study. The baseline information of patients were collected and aCCI was used to score the patients’ comorbidity. The outcome was ischemic stroke. The median duration of follow-up was 1 796.5 days. According to the maximum likelihood ratio of the two-piecewise COX regression model and the recursive algorithm, the aCCI inflection point value was determined to be 6, and the patients were divided into low aCCI group (＜6 points) and high aCCI group (≥6 points). A Cox regression model was used to quantify the association between baseline aCCI and ischemic stroke. ResultsAmong the 74 patients, 53 were males and 21 were females, with the mean age of (55.22±14.18) (19-84) years. There were 9 patients of OAO and 65 patients of RAO. The aCCI value ranges from 1 to 10 points, with a median of 3 points. There were 63 patients (85.14%, 63/74) in the low aCCI group and 11 patients (14.86%, 11/74) in the high aCCI group. Since 2 patients could not determine the time from baseline to the occurrence of outcome events, 72 patients were included for Cox regression analysis. The results showed that 16 patients (22.22%, 16/72) had ischemic stroke in the future. The baseline aCCI in the low aCCI group was significantly associated with ischemic stroke [hazard ratio (HR)=1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.56, P=0.003], and for every 1 point increase in baseline aCCI, the risk of future ischemic stroke increased by 76% on average. The baseline aCCI in the high aCCI group had no significant correlation with the ischemic stroke (HR=0.66, 95%CI 0.33-1.33, P=0.247). ConclusionsaCCI score is an important prognostic information for patients with OAO or RAO. A higher baseline aCCI score predicts a higher risk of ischemic stroke, and the association has a saturation effect.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes in open probability and protein expression of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channel in retinal vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMCs) of diabetic rats.
MethodsStreptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat diabetic animal model was established by STZ injection intraperitoneally.RVSMCs were isolated by enzyme digestion. The BK currents in control and diabetic groups were recorded by patch clamp technique in single channel configuration. BK channel protein expression in control and diabetic group were measured by Western blot.
ResultsCompared with control group, the NP0 of BK channels in diabetic group were significantly increased (t=4.260, P < 0.05). Compared with control group, there was no significant difference inα-subunit protein expression in diabetic group in RVSMCs (t=10.126, P > 0.05); however, β1-subunit protein expression was remarkably increased in diabetic group (t=5.146, P < 0.05).
ConclusionThe NP0 of BK channels andβ1-subunit protein expression are increased in RVSMCs of diabetic rats.
Objective
To investage the relationship among the visual loss, the disease course, and retinal circulation time in patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO)．
Method
The data about the central vision, disease course, and results of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) of 99 patients (99 eyes) with CRAO were statistically analyzed.
Results
Between 2 days and 21 days after the occurrence of CRAO, the disease course didnrsquo;t relate to the central visual loss (Pgt;0.05). In the retinal circulation, a correlation was found between the time of fluorescein perfusion and the central visual loss (Plt;0.05) but not between the time of arm-retina circulation and the central visual loss (Pgt;0.05).
Conclusion
In the duration of retinal circulation, the time of fluorescein perfusion in retinal artery relates to the central visual loss; the longer the duration is, the worse the vision is.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 177-179)
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effect of super-selective ophthalmic artery or selective carotid artery thrombolytic therapy for central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).
MethodsTwelve CRAO patients (12 eyes) were enrolled in this study. The patients included 7 males and 5 females. The age was ranged from 19 to 68 years old, with an average of (50.0±3.5) years. The disease duration was from 8 to 72 hours, with a mean of 18 hours. All the patients were received the treatment of super-selective ophthalmic artery or selective carotid artery thrombolysis with urokinase (total 0.20-0.4 million U) and injection of papaverine 30 mg. Five patients received the treatment of super-selective ophthalmic artery thrombolytic therapy, 7 patients received the treatment of selective carotid artery thrombolytic therapy (4 patients because of the financial issues, 3 patients because of thin ophthalmic artery). According to the visual acuity of post-treatment and pre-treatment, the therapeutic effects on vision were defined as effective markedly (improving three lines or more), effective (improving two lines) and no effect (no change or a decline). According to the arm-retinal circulation time (A-Rct) and filling time of retinal artery and its branches (FT) on fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA), the therapeutic effects on retinal circulation were defined as effective markedly (A-Rct 15 s, FT 2 s), effective (A-Rct was improved but in the range of 16-20 s, FT was in 3-8 s) and no effect (A-Rct was improved but 21 s, FT 9 s).
ResultsThe vision changes showed effective markedly in 5 eyes (41.7%), effective in 5 eyes (41.7%), no effect in 2 eyes (16.6%). The total therapeutic efficiency on vision was 83.4%. The retinal circulation was improved in all eyes after treatment, including effective markedly in 8 eyes (67.0%), effective in 4 eyes (33.0%). The total therapeutic efficiency on retinal circulation was 100.0%. No complications occurred in these 12 patients during the treatment or follow-up, such as puncture site hematoma, intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral embolism, eye movement abnormalities, retinal and vitreous hemorrhage.
ConclusionSuper-selective ophthalmic artery and selective carotid artery thrombolytic therapy were effective in the treatment of CRAO.
Objective
To investigate the effects of docosahexenoic acid (DHA) on large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels in normal retinal artery smooth muscle cells (RASMCs).
Methods
Cultured human RASMCs (6 th-8 th generations) were used to patch clamp experiment. The open probabihties (NP0) in BK channels with different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 μmol/L) of DHA were recorded by patch clamp technique in single channel configuration. RASMCs were intervened by different concentrations (0.0, 1.0, 5.0 μmol/L) of DHA as control group, low and high doses of DHA groups, respectively. The protein expressions of β subunit of BK channels in RASMCs from three groups were measured by Western blot.
Results
The NP0 of BK channels were 0.044 4±0.001 2, 0.081 2±0.004 2, 0.209 0±0.006 1, 0.310 5±0.005 3, 0.465 0±0.007 8 and 0.497 7±0.014 5 with perfusate of 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 μmol/L DHA. DHA activated BK channels in a dose-dependent manner (F=2.621,P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the protein expression of control group, low and high doses of DHA groups (F=11.657,P＞0.05).
Conclusion
DHA can directly activate BK channels, no increasing in subunit expression of BK channels.
Objective
To observe the pathological changes of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods
Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients with BRAO diagnosed in our Center from December 2002 to June 2005 were examined by OCT. The intervals of disease onsets and OCT examinations in all patients were within 2 weeks. The OCT scan modes were horizontal or vertical lines, and the locations of OCT scanning were macular area and the posterior pole of retina. The retinal thicknesses of macular foveola were measured and the macular thicknesses in different obstructive locations were compared using ANOVA analysis. The correlations of visual acuity and retinal thickness were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.
Results
Among the 26 eyes with BRAO, 9 eyes with temporosuperior artery occlusion, 8 eyes with temporoinferior artery occlusion, 7 eyes with arteriole occlusion and 2 eyes with retinal ciliary artery occlusion were observed. The pathological characteristics of OCT images of BRAO were increased retinal thickness and reflectivity in the obstructive locations, and widened dark area of photoreceptors (edema), while there was no obvious foveal edema were observed. The retinal images in other locations were normal. The average macular foveal thickness in the groups of temporosuperior artery occlusion, temporoinferior artery occlusion and retina arteriole occlusion were (161.11plusmn;17.66) mu;m, (148.38plusmn;18.48) mu;m and (136.29plusmn;14.94) mu;m, respectively (F=4.137,P=0.031,Pgt;0.01). There was no correlation of visual acuity with retinal thickness in 24 eyes (r＝0.285，P＝0.176，Pgt;0.01).
Conclusion
OCT could display the pathological changes of retinal tissue of BRAO in vivo. The increases of macular foveal thicknesses in BRAO eyes are not so obvious, and no correlations could be seen between visual acuity and macular foveal thickness. OCT is indicated on the old patients and the patients with systemic diseases for whom FFA is contraindicated. The unique characteristics of pathological changes of BRAO indicated by OCT images supply the objective signs for the instant clinical diagnosis.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 173-176)
ObjectiveTo observe the cilioretinal artery and its relationship with central visual loss in central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO) patients.
MethodsA total of 140 CRAO patients (140 eyes) were enrolled in this study. The patients included 83 males and 57 females. The age was ranged from 42 to 75 years old, with an average of (55.70±22.20) years. All the patients were affected unilaterally, including 79 right eyes and 61 left eyes. The disease duration was from 1 to 10 days, with a mean of (4.7±3.9) hours. Central vision and fluorescence fundus angiography were measured for all patients. The central visual loss was divided into 3 types: mild (≥0.1), moderate (finger counting to 0.08) and severe (no light perception to hand movement). The number, length and location of cilioretinal artery were observed. The correlation between cilioretinal artery and central visual loss was analyzed.
ResultsThere were 41 eyes (29.3%) with cilioretinal artery, which including 13 eyes (31.7%) with ≥3 cilioretinal arteries, 23 eyes (56.1%) with 2 cilioretinal arteries, 5 eyes (12.2%) with 1 cilioretinal arteries. The cilioretinal artery was within 1 disk diameter (DD) in length and not reached the macular area in 37 eyes (90.2%), was more than 1DD in length and reached the macular foveal area in 4 eyes (9.8%). The cilioretinal artery located in the temporal side of optic disk in 29 eyes (70.7%), and in other quadrant in 12 eyes (29.3%). The distribution of central visual loss degree as follow: mild in 15 eyes (10.7%), moderate in 50 eyes (35.7%), severe in 75 eyes (53.6%). The difference of central visual loss in the eyes with or without cilioretinal arteries was not significant (χ2=0.16, P>0.05).
ConclusionsCilioretinal artery exists in 29.3% CRAO eyes. There was no close correlation between cilioretinal artery and central visual loss.
Purpose
To analyze the relationship of retinal artery occlusion(RAO) with the white blood cell(WBC) count and inflammatory diseases away from the eyes.
Methods
Ninety-fours patients with retinal artery occlusion were studied retrospectively.The patients were divided into 2 groups,one of which with inflammatory diseases,the other without.An age and sex matched control group was made.
Results
Fifty four(58%) cases had inflammatory diseases of various causes at the same time,among which only 14(26%) cases directly involved the eyes.WBC count was significantly higher after the occurrence of RAO(Plt;0.05),comparing with that of the control group.
Conclusion
Inflammatory diseases away from the eyes may be oneof the factors causing RAO.The increased WBC count may be an inflammatory reaction to RAO.
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1998,14:159-161)
