Anticardiolipin IgG Antibody and Homocysteine as Possible Risk Factors for Retinal Vascular Occlusive Disease in Thai Patients

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the role of serum anticardiolipin IgG antibody and fasting plasma homocysteine levels as risk factors for retinal vascular occlusive disease in Thai patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective, case–control study. Forty-one consecutive patients with recent onset of retinal vascular occlusive diseases were enrolled. In conjunction with a routine laboratory work up, serum anticardiolipin IgG antibody and plasma homocysteine were evaluated. Ninety volunteers without a history of retinal vascular occlusive disease were chosen as controls.

Results

In general, mean levels of anticardiolipin IgG antibody and homocysteine did not differ between the patients and controls. However, when the groups without a history of underlying systemic diseases were compared, there were statistically significant differences in the anticardiolipin IgG antibody level between patients and controls (mean 12.24 ± 8.66 and 7.70 ± 6.69 GPL units/ml, respectively) with a P value of 0.024.

Conclusions

No association was found between plasma homocysteine level and retinal vascular occlusion in our patient population. A high level of anticardiolipin IgG antibody is shown to be a risk factor only in patients without a history of underlying systemic diseases. The effect of anticardiolipin IgG antibody on the development of retinal vascular occlusive disease appears to be limited and may not be a major cause. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:211–215 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005