[Systemic conditions associated with central and branch retinal artery occlusions].

INTRODUCTION: Retinal artery occlusions (RAO) are severe conditions threatening vision, affecting the subsequent mortality of these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the work-up performed in all patients diagnosed with retinal artery occlusions evaluated in two university hospitals in France (Tours and Angers).

RESULTS: A total of 131 patients (131 eyes) with RAO were included, with a mean age of 69.5years and male predominance (64 %). Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) resulted in poor initial visual acuity (90 % less than count fingers), whereas those with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) had better visual acuity (63.6 % better than 20/40). Systemic arterial hypertension (HTN) was the most common associated risk factor. Carotid stenosis was found in 50 % of cases, leading to endarterectomy in nine patients (6.9 %), while an underlying cardiac cause was implicated in 14 % of cases. Giant cell arteritis was diagnosed in five patients (3.8 %).

DISCUSSION: Work-up of RAO may detect treatable cardiovascular and systemic conditions, allowing prevention of further ocular recurrence or stroke.

CONCLUSION: Etiologic work-up of retinal arterial occlusion can diagnose potentially treatable underlying systemic conditions, such as giant cell arteritis, cardiac conditions and extracranial cerebrovascular disease. Giant cell arteritis has to be ruled out at the acute phase, while the role and timing of semi-urgent testing (supra-aortic Doppler echography, echocardiography, electrocardiography, lab work-up) or delayed testing (transesophageal echocardiography, brain imaging) have yet to be determined.