Pseudoexfoliation syndrome in patients with retinal vein branch and central vein thrombosis

Abstract

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a frequent cause of secondary open-angle glaucoma due to deposition and in situ-production of abnormal extracellular matrix proteins in the trabecular meshwork. Glaucomas itself are a known risk factor for retinal vein thrombosis. In this retrospective study the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome in patients with branch and central retinal vein thrombosis was investigated. The records of 332 unselected patients with branch retinal vein thrombosis and 159 with central retinal vein thrombosis, which were seen in our laser out-patient clinic between January 1990 and July 1996, were analysed retrospectively. 6.0% of patients with branch and 6.9% of patients with central retinal vein thrombosis revealed pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The full picture of pseudoexfoliation syndrome was seen in 4.2% of patients with branch and in 4.4% of patients with central retinal vein thrombosis. The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome increased with age. Twenty percent of patients with branch and 27% of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and branch or central retinal vein thrombosis. The branch retinal vein thrombosis was significantly more often localised at the disk in patients with glaucoma and in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a risk factor for retinal vein thrombosis. Pathogenetically the secondary open-angle glaucoma caused by pseudoexfoliation syndrome could be causative for the venous thrombosis.