Evaluation of Systemic Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the condition of systemic endothelial function and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and to identify the risk factors associated with the disease.Material-Method: Seventy-six patients who presented to the clinic with the diagnosis of RVO and 76 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals without a RVO history were included in the study. The patients' vision levels and central macular thickness were measures, and diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, carotid artery disease, body mass index and smoking histories were recorded. The endothelial function levels of the patients, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and CIMT were measured. Serum hematological parameters were evaluated.Results: The most important risk factor in patients with RVO was found to be hypertension (OR 1.455, 95% CI 1.981-9.272; p=0.001) compared to the control group, and diabetes (OR 0.460, 95% CI 1.981-9.272; p=0.001) and hyperlipidemia (OR 0.124, 95% CI 0.371-3.456; p=0.828) were significantly more common among the patients.There was a statistically significant difference between the RVO and control groups in terms of flow-mediated dilation (OR 0.050, 95% CI 0.020-0.080; p =0.001), PWV (OR 0.392, 95% CI 0.271-0.513; p<0.001), and the CIMT of both sides (OR 2.434, 95% CI 1.801-3.055 for the right CIMT and OR 2.284, 95% CI 1.646-2.922 for the left CIMT) (p<0.001 for all).Conclusion: Considering that RVO is associated with systemic endothelial dysfunction and may also be accompanied by carotid artery stenosis, we think that additional systemic diseases should be questioned in this patient group.