THE PREVALENCE OF SYSTEMIC RISK FACTORS IN YOUNG PATIENTS WITH RETINAL VEINOCCLUSION

Purpose – to study the prevalence of systemic risk factors in young patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Material and methods 28 patients with RVO, aged 24-44, were enrolled in a prospective study. Measurements included body mass index, fasting glucose, and total cholesterol tests. Results The vast majority of patients (71.43%) were diagnosed with central RVO, others (28.57%) had branch RVO. Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors were identified in 82.14% of patients. The most prevalent risk factors were overweight/obesity (57.14%), hyperlipidemia (44%) and arterial hypertension (35.71%). A combination of overweight/obesity and arterial hypertension or hyperlipidemia were identified in 28.57% of patients. High fasting glucose level was detected in 10.71% of patients. In five cases without traditional risk factors, RVO was associated with hyperviscosity syndrome due to hereditary thrombophilia in two patients, as a result of dehydration in two other ones and associated with COVID-19 in one patient. Conclusion RVO in young patients is associated with modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in 82.14% of cases. The impact of these risk factors and their combinations leads to endothelial damage, local circulatory disturbance and hyperviscosity syndrome comprising a Virchow’s triad that underlies the pathogenesis of RVO. Key words: retinal vein occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion, risk factors, arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity