AA case of the week


A 32 year old lady presented with a CRVO and macular odema.

Her VA and OCT improved after treatment with anti-VEGF Ranibizumab, (the patient was not pregnant at the time).

Question

1) What investigations would you request on presentation?

Answer

Investigations are aimed at identifying treatable risk factors for atherosclerosis, and conditions that cause hyperviscosity/slow/turbulent flow through retinal veins

Guidelines below were taken from the Royal college of Ophthalmologists document on the management of RVO.

Blood pressure - hypertension

FBC - Blood disorders

ESR - inflammation/myeloma 

U&E - renal pathology

Glucose - diabetes

lipids - hyperlipidaemia


Additional tests for younger patients (where vascular risk factors are less likely)

Anticardiolipin, Lupus anticoagulant - Antiphospholipid syndrome (based on past medical and obstetric history)

Homocysteine - hyperhomocysteinaemia

Thrombophilia screen (protein C, protein S, antithrombin, factor V) - based on past medical history

Systemic inflammatory disorders: ANCA - Wegners, PAN, ACE - Sarcoidosis, Behcets