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.
Objective To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) in the treatment of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) with the assistance of the rescue green channel in the eye stroke center. Methods A prospective, interventional, single-center study. Thirty-eight eyes from 38 RAO patients who received IAT treatment in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital were enrolled. All the patients were rescued via the green channel in our eye stroke center. Data from comprehensive ocular examinations including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were collected. BCVA was measured with Snellen chart and converted to the logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) unit for statistical analysis. RTVue XR OCTA was used to measure vascular densities (VD) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and radial peripapillary capillary (RPC), and central retinal thickness (CRT). All RAO eyes attempted IAT treatment and 34 eyes were successful. Four eyes failed to complete IAT because of the occlusion of internal or common carotid arteries on the same side with the RAO eyes. Ocular examinations in post-operative 1-3 days were performed with the same devices and methods as those before surgery. Parameters measured before and after surgery include BCVA, VD of SCP, DCP, RPC, and CRT. Data of the green channel collected include the time intervals from onset of RAO to first presentation in local hospitals, and from onset of RAO to our eye stroke center. Comparisons of VD and CRT between the RAO eyes and contralateral healthy eyes were performed with independent samples Mann-Whitney U test; comparisons of VD and CRT in RAO eyes before and after IAT surgery were performed with paired samples Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Results Among the 34 RAO patients who had successful IAT surgery, 18 (52.9%, 18/34) were males and 16 (47.1%, 16/34) were females; the mean age was (51.0±12.9) years old. There were 30 and 4 eyes diagnosed as central RAO and branch RAO respectively. The logMAR BCVA before and after IAT surgery was 2.52±0.61 and 2.18±0.85 respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (Z=－3.453, P=0.002). Before surgery, VD of SCP, DCP and RPC were significantly decreased and CRT was significantly increased in the affected eye compared with the contralateral healthy eyes, with the statistical significance (P＜0.001). Compared with those before surgery, the VD of SCP and DCP were significantly improved after surgery (Z=－2.523, －2.427; P=0.010, 0.014), while there was no difference in VD of RPC and CRT (Z=－1.448, －1.454; P=0.150, 0.159). The time interval between onset of RAO and first visit to the hospital was (6.56±6.73) hours; the time interval between onset of RAO and the arrival at our hospital was (24.11±19.90) hours. No cerebral stroke was observed in the early post-operative period and no cerebrocardiovascular events were observed later. he time interval between onset of RAO and the arrival at our hospital was (24.11±19.90) hours. No cerebral stroke was observed in the early post-operative period and no cerebrocardiovascular events were observed later. Conclusions The short-term efficacy and safety of IAT in the treatment of RAO were satisfactory. The rescue time window might be prolonged.
Embolus occlusion in the retinal artery is the most common cause of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), while hypertension is the most common risk factor of CRAO, and ipsilateral carotid artery stenosis is the most significant risk factor in CRAO. Current clinical treatments include conservative treatments such as dilation of blood vessels and lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as aggressive treatments like intravenous thrombolysis and Nd:YAG laser. Both thrombolysis and Nd:YAG laser treatment can improve the visual acuity of CRAO patients, but because of its lack of randomized controlled trials, further clinical studies are needed to determine their efficacy and safety. CRAO patients may have vascular embolism at other sites in the body, and may cause different degrees of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The probability of secondary ocular neovascularization following the occurrence of these events is 2.5% to 31.6%. In addition to eye care, clinicians should also focus more on preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, and focus on the screening and active treatment of systemic risk factors to reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
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)