Central retinal vein occlusion in patients treated with long-term warfarin sodium (Coumadin) for anticoagulation.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of persons who developed central retinal vein occlusion (CVO) while being treated with Coumadin for chronic anticoagulation. METHODS: In a retrospective, comparative, noninterventional case series of patients diagnosed with CVO while being treated with Coumadin as a systemic anticoagulant, visual and anatomical outcomes were compared with those for a cohort of patients diagnosed with CVO who were not treated with any systemic anticoagulation. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients treated with Coumadin were identified. At presentation, the median international normalization ratio (INR) was 2.20 (range, 1.3-5.0). Eight patients (57%) had a therapeutic INR at the time of CVO. Their visual acuity and perfusion status were similar to those of patients with subtherapeutic INR. At the last follow-up (median, 16 months), visual acuity and perfusion status of the group of 14 eyes were similar to baseline findings (P = 0.62). Clinical features and outcomes were similar to those for a cohort of patients with CVO who were not being treated with systemic anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: CVO can occur in patients being treated with Coumadin for systemic anticoagulation. Final visual acuity and perfusion status were similar to those in a cohort of patients with CVO who were not treated with Coumadin. Although visual acuity is unaffected, ensuring that the INR for these patients remains in the therapeutic range may be important to help prevent secondary systemic thrombotic and embolic disease.

Duke Scholars

Author Prithvi Mruthyunjaya Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery

Author Sandra Sue Stinnett Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics

Author Sharon Fekrat Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery