Demeterio DX, García GJG, Lima GV

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 18-21
PDF size: 222.46 Kb.

ABSTRACT

lntroduction. Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) causes a sudden, severe and painless visual loss; its origin may be thrombotic or embolic, the main cause of death in patients with CRAO is cardiovascular disease. A study was conducted to identify morbidity and mortality in patients with CRAO, in order to learn which conferred a higher risk for the patient and direct multidisciplinary approach. Material and methods. Observational, descriptive, retrospective, cross sectional and open label study. Patients with CRAO evaluated from January 2008 to October 2009 in a general hospital were evaluated. The study variable was the presence of coexisting systemic diseases, whose distribution was evaluated using proportions and 95% confidence intervals for proportions. Results. nine eyes from eight patients (mean age 54.5 years); six patients were males (75 %) . Mean evolution time of the disease was 100.8 hours; visual acuity ranged from countingfingers at 40 cm to no light perception. Systemic diseasewas found in 4 patients (50%): diabetes in 2 (25.5%), mucormycosis in two (25.5%), arterial hypertension in one (12.5%) carotid stenosis in one (12.5%) and drug consumption in one (12.5%). Discussion. The most common systemic alterations found in patients with CRAO were chronic diseases. Sudden visual loss should not be attributed to disease related retinopathy; the patient w ith CRAO requires a careful systemic exploration, regardless of visual evolution.