This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Merchut, M. P. Articles by Naheedy, M. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Merchut, M. P. Articles by Naheedy, M. H. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Carotid Artery Disease

Stroke, Vol 19, 1239-1242, Copyright © 1988 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

The relation of retinal artery occlusion and carotid artery stenosis

MP Merchut, SR Gupta and MH Naheedy
Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.

We retrospectively studied 46 patients with symptomatic retinal artery occlusion and assessed the pattern and extent of carotid artery disease ipsilateral to the retinal artery occlusion. Ipsilateral internal carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions were virtually limited to the cervical arterial segment; 50% of such lesions were plaques or stenoses of less than or equal to 60%, whereas 15% of the angiograms were normal. No clinical features were significantly associated with a flow- limiting carotid stenosis of greater than 60%. Contrary to previous reports, the type of retinal artery occlusion, whether branch or central artery occlusion, was not predictive of severe underlying carotid stenosis or occlusion. Likely mechanisms of retinal artery occlusion include in situ thrombosis and emboli from carotid, and possibly cardiac, sources. Extension of thrombus from an occluded carotid artery into the ophthalmic artery did not appear to be a mechanism of retinal artery occlusion.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Ahmed, V. Khetpal, L. M. Merin, and A. S. Chomsky Retrospective Review of Incidental Retinal Emboli Found on Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: Is There a Benefit to Referral for Work-Up and Possible Management? Clin. Diabetes, October 1, 2008; 26(4): 179 - 182. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Sharma, G. C. Brown, J. L. Pater, and A. F. Cruess Does a Visible Retinal Embolus Increase the Likelihood of Hemodynamically Significant Carotid Artery Stenosis in Patients With Acute Retinal Arterial Occlusion? Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 1998; 116(12): 1602 - 1606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Mitchell, J. J. Wang, W. Li, S. R. Leeder, and W. Smith Prevalence of Asymptomatic Retinal Emboli in an Australian Urban Community Stroke, January 1, 1997; 28(1): 63 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text]