The significancy of transthoracic echocardiography and carotid doppler ultrasound in patients with retinal artery occlussion

초록

Purpose: To assess the significancy of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and carotid doppler ultrasound in finding cardiac and carotid artery origins of retinal emboli. Design: Retrospective case series. Settings: Department ophthalmology, In-ha university hospital, Incheon, Korea. Patients: 15 patients presenting with acute retinal artery occlusion (10 central, 5 branched) who underwent TTE and 6 patients (4 central, 2 branched) who underwent carotid doppler ultrasound. Mainoutcome measure: Finding of possible cardiac and carotid artery origins of retinal emboli. Results: Abnormal cardiac findings were detected by TTE in 12 (9 central, 3 branched) of the 15 patients (80%). They include valvular regurgitation (n=9), sclerotic valve (n=5), left ventricular hypertrophy (n=5), prosthetic valve (n=1), rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (n=1), mitral annulus calcification (n=1), intracardiac thrombus (n=1), pericardial effusion (n=1). Abnormal carotid findings were detected by carotid doppler ultrasound in 2 (central) of the 6 patients (33%). They include ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (n=1), contralateral ICA stenosis (n=2), common carotid artery (CCA) stenosis (n=1). Conclusions: In patients with acute retinal obstruction, TTE and carotid doppler ultrasound play an important role in finding out origins of retinal emboli. This results suggest that TTE and carotid doppler ultrasound are essential examination in patients with acute retinal obstruction.