Clinical features and carotid artery color Doppler imaging in patients with ocular ischemic syndrome

Abstract

To report the clinical manifestations and results of carotid artery color Doppler imaging (CDI) of ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS). It was a retrospective case series study. Consecutive patients suspected with OIS were retrospectively studied from 1995 to 2009. We evaluated all patients with medical history, visual acuity, slit lamp, direct and indirect funduscopy, Fundus fluorescence angiography. CDI for internal carotid artery (ICA), Diagnostic Cerebral Angiography and magnetic resonance imaging were also performed. 17 patients (20 eyes) with OIS were studied, 13 males and 4 females. The age range of patients was 46 to 83 years old (median 70). 13 right eyes and 7 left eyes (3 bilateral) were involved. (1) SYMPTOMS: 70.6% (12/17) of the patients complained of visual decrease. 17.6% (3/17) had history of repeated amaurosis fugax (transient monocular visual loss); 11.8% (2/17) patients presented with floaters. The course before the first presentation was 2 days to 6 years (median 3 months). (2) Visual Acuity (VA): among the 20 involved eyes, the best corrected VA < 0.05 in 3 eyes (15.0%); 0.05 to < 0.3 in 7 eyes (35.0%); 0.3 to < 0.7 in 7 eyes (35.0%); ≥ 0.7 in 3 eyes (15.0%). (3) Fundus manifestations: 15.0% (3/20) eyes had cotton-wool spots; 25.0% (5/20) had retinal hemorrhages; retinal arterioles and vein became narrow; venous beading could be seen in severe cases. 30.0% (6/20) had microaneurysms in mid-peripheral area. The pressure of central retinal artery decreased; 25.0% (5/20) had optic disc or retinal neovascularization; 10.0% (2/20) had iris neovascularization. 5.0% (1/20) had neovascular glaucoma; 5.0% (1/20) had optic atrophy. (4) Fundus fluorescence angiography: arm-retinal circulation time prolonged to 14.5 to 39.9 seconds, (median 20.9 seconds). The retinal and choroidal circulation time was also prolonged. The wall of artery and venous could be staining. Hyperfluorescence dots indicating microaneurysms could be seen in the mid-peripheral area. Arterio-venous shunts, non-perfusion area and the leakage of new vessels were observed in some cases. (5) Internal carotid artery CDI examination: The ipsilateral ICA of the 19 involved eyes (another patient with pulseless disease had abnormal subclavian arterial flow) showed completely occluded in 5 cases (26.4%), > 80.0% to 95.0% stenosis in 7 cases (36.8%), 52.0% to 80.0% stenosis in 7 cases (36.8%). Among the 14 contralateral eyes of the same group of patients, CDI showed stenosis of 80.0%, 70.0%, 60.0%, 50.0% and 40.0% in 5 eyes, whereas no fundus abnormal was found. Peak of systolic velocity (PSV): Among the 20 involved eyes of the 17 patients, PSV of the ipsilateral ICA was undetectable in 8 cases which occluded completely or stenosis severely. Among the ipsilateral ICA of the other 12 eyes, 11 cases showed abnormal PSV; PSV increased to 92 to 524 cm/s in 9 cases and decreased to 41 cm/s in 1 case. The blood flow of subclavian artery reduced to 20 cm/s in one patient with pulseless disease. The blood flow of subclavian artery reduced to 20 cm/s in one patient with pulseless disease. The patients with OIS are usually older than 60 years of age. It is a chronic disease with unnoticed symptoms. The clinical manifestations may include: amaurosis fugax (transient monocular visual loss), hypoperfusion retinopathy and ischemic optic neuropathy. Internal carotid artery severe stenosis or occlusion are the most frequent cause of this disease. CDI is the best safe, reliable and non-invaded method for carotid artery examination.