Backgroud:Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy. To date, the studies were unable to elucidate the mechanism of the thrombosis leading to the entity; particularly the relation between thrombocyte aggregation and retinal vein occlusion is still unclear. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a determinant of rate of platelet production and activation, both of which are indices of function of platelets. The relation between MPV and BRVO has not been studied before. The aim was to evaluate MPV in BRVO.Materials and Methods:Forty patients were included in the study. Forty six age and sex matched hypertensive volunteers were recruited as the control group.Results:MPV values were significantly higher in BRVO patients compared with the control subjects (8.01 ± 0.79vs 7.52 ± 0.32fL, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusion: MPV is significantly higher in patients hypertensive BRVO patients and further investigations regarding its potentially use as a prognostic biomarker in patients with BRVO are needed.

SUMMARYThe association of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with stenosis or narrowing of the transverse sinuses (TSs) is well known. However, there is debate as to whether the stenosis is a cause or consequence. Here we describe a case of IIH and narrowing of the TSs, with four relapses and recoveries after repeated CSF diversions with lumbar puncture (LP) over 2 months. Subsequently, implantation of a lumboperitoneal shunt (LPrS) ensured recovery. MR venography 20 months after LPrS showed normally calibrated TSs. We show repeated MR venography findings before and after the LPs, and discuss the pathogenesis of IIH in terms of the cause and effect relationship between IIH and sinus collapse. BACKGROUND

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Mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recognized as an independent risk factor of hypertension. Hypertensive end-organ damage worsens the prognosis in hypertensive patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between MPV levels and subclinical end-organ damage in hypertensive patients. One hundred and sixteen hypertensive patients (81 women, 35 men, with a mean age of 53 ± 11) were included in the study. There was no correlation between MPV and left-ventricular mass index (LVMI) (r = 0.145; P = 0.14) or albuminuria (r = 0.009; P = 0.93). Among the individuals that had grade I and grade II retinopathy, MPV levels (8.3 ± 2 fL, 8.2 ± 1.3 fL; P = 0.28) were similar either. We concluded that there was no correlation between MPV and markers of end-organ damage in hypertensive patients.