Abstract
Background
Central retinal vein occlusion is a relatively common retinal disorder in the elderly, and those with cardiovascular or thrombophilic risk factors are at increased risk. Although still unsatisfying, some treatments for the acute and chronic phases have been established based on randomized studies. However, for rare conditions mimicking central retinal vein occlusion, treatment of the acute phase should be targeted at etiology. A rare condition mimicking central retinal vein occlusion in a 70-year-old man is presented and discussed.
Methods
A 70-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for isovolemic hemodilution related to a central retinal vein occlusion of the elderly, after a sudden decrease in visual acuity to 0.1.
Results
Clinical and laboratory work-up demonstrated a venous stasis retinopathy, related to an atypical cavernous sinus thrombosis of undetermined origin. The patient had experienced in the past 6 months intermittent diplopia and an irreducible conjunctival hyperemia. Hemodilution was dismissed. Soon after initiation of anticoagulation therapy, the patient’s clinical signs and symptoms improved. Final visual acuity was 0.8.
Conclusion
Venous stasis retinopathy secondary to cavernous sinus thrombosis is rare. However, careful clinical examination and extensive laboratory work-up is needed to exclude central retinal vein occlusion not associated with common vascular pathologies of the elderly.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Boniuk M (1972) The ocular manifestations of ophthalmic vein and aseptic cavernous sinus thrombosis. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 76:1519–1534
Brismar G, Brismar J (1977) Aseptic thrombosis of orbital veins and cavernous sinus. Acta Ophthalmol 55:9–22
Brunette I, Boghen D (1987) Central retinal vein occlusion complicating spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula. Arch Ophthalmol 105:464–465
Glacet-Bernard A, Zourdani A, Milhoub M, Maraqua N, Coscas G, Soubrane G (2001) Effect of isovolemic hemodilution in central retinal vein occlusion. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 239:909–914
Hansen LL, Wiek J, Wiederholt M (1989) A randomised prospective study of treatment of non-ischaemic central retinal vein occlusion by isovolaemic haemodilution. Br J Ophthalmol 73:875–879
Herman JM, Spetzler RF, Bederson JB, Kurbat JM, Zabramski JM (1995) Genesis of a dural arteriovenous malformation in a rat model. J Neurosurg 83:539–545
Komiyama M, Yamanaka K, Nagata Y, Ishikawa H (1990) Dural carotid-cavernous sinus fistula and central retinal vein occlusion: a case report and a review of the literature. Surg Neurol 34:255–259
Sharma S, Cruess AF (1996) Central retinal vein occlusion associated with cavernous sinus thrombosis. Can J Ophthalmol 31:255–256
The Eye Disease Case-Control Study Group (1996) Risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion. Arch Ophthalmol 114:545–554
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
No financial interest. No grant.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zaninetti, M., Stangos, A.N., Abdo, G. et al. Cavernous sinus thrombosis elicited by a central retinal vein venous stasis retinopathy. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243, 834–836 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1123-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-1123-z