The correlation between carotid stenosis detected by neck vascular ultrasound and branch retinal vein occlusion

Abstract

To discuss the clinical significance of the neck vascular ultrasound examination in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Case-control study. Thirty patients of BRVO and 30 healthy subjects with no ophthalmic and systemic symptoms were recruited from January 2010 to January 2012 in the Department of Ophthalmology of the First People's Hospital of Dali Prefecture. The neck vascular ultrasound examination was performed in two groups. The incidence of carotid atheromatous plaque, the rate of carotid stenosis and the carotid artery resistance index (RI) were compared using chi square test. Logistic regression analysis of the rate of carotid stenosis and carotid artery RI were performed. In BRVO group, 23 cases had carotid atheromatous plaque with the incidence of 76.7% Nineteen cases had carotid stenosis with the incidence of 63.3%. The average carotid artery RI was 0.66. In control group, carotid artery atheromatous plaque was found on 6 subjects with incidence of 20.0%. Carotid artery stenosis was detected in 3 subjects with incidence of 10.0%. The average carotid artery RI was 0.61. The incidence of carotid artery atheromatous plaque and carotid stenosis and carotid artery RI in BRVO group were significantly higher than the control group. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that carotid artery stenosis (partial regression coefficien t = 2.263, OR = 9.611, P = 0.004) and carotid artery RI (partial regression coefficien t = 23.713, OR = 669.273, P = 0.006) had influence in BRVO patients as risk factors. Early detection of carotid scleratheroma and carotid artery stenosis by the carotid artery ultrasound examination played an important role in prevention or treatment of BRVO.