Current management of amaurosis fugax. The Amaurosis Fugax Study Group

Transient Monocular Visual Loss (Amaurosis Fugax): How Does Age Impact Diagnosis?

Transient monocular visual loss (TMVL), also known as transient monocular blindness or amaurosis fugax ("fleeting blindness"), is a temporary loss of vision often due to ischemia to the retina. While acute TMVL should be considered an emergency that further requires exhaustive investigation, there are some cases in which TMVL arises secondary to benign causes. Age has a major impact in the diagnosis of ischemia and although the differential diagnosis of TMVL can be broad, timely and appropriate history, examination, diagnostic testing, and treatment can be vision- or life-saving. We review the causes of TMVL and the impact of age on the differential diagnoses and management.

Prevalence and risk factors of ischemic monocular vision loss and concurrent brain ischemia

INTRODUCTION

We performed a retrospective cohort study to identify predictors of concurrent asymptomatic brain ischemia in patients with ischemic monocular vision loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

An inpatient database research of admissions to the Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Germany between 01/2016 and 12/2020 was conducted. Inclusion criteria were confirmed diagnosis of transient monocular vision loss (MVL), retinal artery occlusion (RAO), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain within 10 days of MVL. Silent brain ischemia (SBI) was defined as diffusion restrictions with corresponding reduced apparent diffusion coefficient in MRI and an absence of neurological deficits besides those complying with MVL in clinical examination. The prevalence and cardiovascular predictors of SBI were analyzed with logistic regression and an artificial neural network.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen out of 475 patients treated with monocular vision loss were included in this study. The mean age was 67.7 ± 13.6 years. 48.2% were male and 47.4% had RAO. MRI scan of the brain was performed after 3.9 ± 2.3 days and detected SBI in 17%. Age ⩾67 years, cardiac etiology of MVL, and cerebral ischemia in medical history were revealed as predictors of SBI in MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients older than 66 years, with a suspected cardiac embolism as the cause of RAO and previous cerebral ischemia, are more likely to present SBI in cerebral MRI. Therefore, MR imaging, particularly in these patients, can be useful.

A rare presentation of a common carotid artery occlusion

Background

A common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) is very rare and the clinical features of CCAO have rarely been described. Since the blood supply of the eye and orbit is derived from the internal carotid artery, a CCAO may present with various ophthalmological symptoms, ranging from incidental findings to complete visual loss but also other neuro-ophthalmological abnormalities.

Case report

A 61-year-old woman presented with acute monocular vision loss and an elevation deficit of the right eye. Fluorescein angiography showed delayed filling of both the retinal and choroidal vasculature, without occlusion/embolisms of the retinal arteries. Vascular imaging showed a right CCAO.

Conclusion

CCAO has a variable presentation. In patients with acute unilateral visual loss a CCAO should be considered, especially when ocular motility deficits are present. Fluorescein angiography examination can aid in the localization and diagnosis of the vascular insult. Urgent referral for a systemic work-up is essential.

Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy for Isolated Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion in a Patient with Monocular Blindness: A Case Report

We report a rare case of isolated internal carotid artery occlusion complicated by central retinal artery occlusion that was successfully treated with mechanical thrombectomy for internal carotid artery occlusion. A 59-year-old man visited the emergency room because of right monocular blindness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple acute small embolic infarctions in the right frontal lobe, and magnetic resonance angiography revealed right internal carotid artery occlusion without the associated occlusion of the circle of Willis, which indicates the patency of the anterior and middle cerebral arteries. An electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. Therefore, we performed mechanical thrombectomy with a stent retriever under continuous manual aspiration with a balloon-guiding catheter and confirmed complete recanalization, anterograde flow in the right ophthalmic artery, and retinal brush. The procedure was completed without complications, and the patient noticed an improvement in visual acuity immediately after the procedure. When a patient with atrial fibrillation complains of monocular blindness, it is important to consider internal carotid artery occlusion due to cardioembolism, to perform an examination promptly, and to consider early treatment, including mechanical thrombectomy.

Associations of microcirculation damage on nailfold capillaroscopy with supra-aortic severe ischemic events in patients with Takayasu arteritis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and nailfold microcirculation and explore the associations with severe ischemic events (SIEs) in Takayasu arteritis (TA) with supra-aortic involvement.

METHODS

Eighty-one patients with supra-aortic artery involvement who underwent nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) of their hands were enrolled from the East China TA (ECTA) cohort between August and December 2021. Clinical features and capillaroscopy variables associated with supra-aortic SIEs were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 71 patients were female, and 42 experienced supra-aortic SIEs, among whom there was a higher prevalence of hypertension and the number of supra-aortic artery stenosis (P = 0.005, and 0.003, respectively). Furthermore, intergroup differences in capillary density (P < 0.001) and minor morphology abnormalities (P < 0.001) were significant. After adjustment for all confounders, multivariate logistic regression revealed hypertension (odds ratio [OR]: 7.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-33.7, P = 0.011), the number of supra-aortic arteries stenosis (≥4, OR: 6.8, 95% CI: 1.4-34.6, P = 0.020), capillary density (≤7.2/mm, OR: 43.0, 95% CI: 7.0-264.6, P < 0.001) and minor abnormalities (OR: 34.2, 95% CI: 3.6-325.1; P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for supra-aortic SIEs. capillary density (≤7.2/mm) and minor abnormalities or combined with at least two of the three items in the matrix model showed the probability of supra-aortic SIEs was 61.2-87.6%.

CONCLUSION

Decreased capillary density and morphologic abnormalities indicated that hypoperfusion was more likely to be observed in supra-aortic SIEs patients. Combined NVC indicators could be instrumental for early identification of supra-aortic SIEs. Key Points • Minor morphological abnormalities and hemorrhages were only observed in supra-aortic SIEs patients. • Capillaroscopic density and minor morphological abnormalities or combined with at least two of the three items in the matrix model showed the probability occurrence of supra-aortic SIEs was 61.2-87.6%.

[Unique visual symptom of amaurosis fugax: a case report]

We describe an unusual case of a 73-year-old man with amaurosis fugax. He had repeated transient monocular symptoms, one of which features lighting bolt-shaped glittering in the full visual field of the right eye since medical treatment for hypertension and diabetes mellitus started. A few days later, he felt difficulty in speech as well as sensory and motor disturbance in the left upper extremity, which finally brought him to our hospital. An MR scan unveiled subacute infarctions dotted in the right cerebral hemisphere and severe carotid stenosis on the same side with a delayed distal flow. He was hospitalised with diagnosed an ischemic stroke. Despite being treated with antithrombotic agents, he had suffered similar visual symptoms repeatedly and therefore, carotid artery stenting was performed on Day 16 starting from the onset. The right ophthalmic artery and choroidal crescent became depicted angiographically after our surgery had been completed. His visual disturbance has never appeared since then. Consequently, it is suggested that the optic disorders were attributed to a hemodynamically precarious state in the area of the ophthalmic artery.

Carotid intima-media thickness/diameter ratio and peak systolic velocity as risk factors for neurological severe ischemic events in Takayasu's arteritis

Objective

To characterize Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with supra-aortic involvement and determine the associations between clinical features, carotid ultrasonographic (US) parameters, and neurological severe ischemic events (SIE).

Methods

Patients with supra-aortic involvement including brachiocephalic trunk, bilateral common carotid artery and internal carotid artery, and bilateral subclavian and vertebral artery and baseline carotid US examination were enrolled from the East China Takayasu arteritis cohort. Bilateral carotid diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured by US. Then, IMT/diameter ratio (IDR) was calculated. Risk factors associated with neurological SIE were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Totally, 295 patients were included, of whom 260 (88.14%) were female, and 93 (31.53%) experienced neurological SIE. Involved supra-aortic artery distribution (p=0.04) and number (p<0.01) differed between neurologic and non-neurologic SIE subjects, showing higher prevalence of common carotid and vertebral artery involvement after Bonferroni correction and 56.99% patients having more than four involved arteries in neurological SIE group. The bilateral IDR (p<0.01) differed between patients with and without neurological SIE. The carotid IDR (left: cut-off value ≥0.55, odds ratio [OR] 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-6.07, p=0.01; right: ≥0.58, OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.21-6.02, p=0.01) and left carotid PSV (≤76.00 cm/s, OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.53-6.27; p<0.01) as well as involved supra-aortic artery number (≥4, OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.15-4.72, p =0.02) were independently associated with neurological SIE.

Conclusion

The carotid IDR and PSV might be performed as valuable markers for recognizing neurological SIE in TAK patients with supra-aortic lesions.

Transient Visual Loss in Young Females with Crowded Optic Discs: A Proposed Aetiology

I present four cases of transient visual loss (TVL) in young females with crowded optic discs. One patient had asymmetrical cup-to-disc ratios and only experienced TVL in the eye with the more crowded disc. I review the evidence for blood flow autoregulatory dysfunction within crowded optic discs in combination with reduced ocular perfusion pressure to propose a possible aetiology for both unilateral and bilateral TVL in young females with crowded optic discs.

Carotid endarterectomy restores decreased vision due to chronic ocular ischemia

BACKGROUND

The therapeutic effect of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) on visual disturbance caused by chronic ocular ischemia due to carotid artery stenosis has not been validated. This prospective observational study aims to investigate whether CEA is associated with an increase in ocular blood flow (OBF) and postoperative visual improvement.

METHODS

In total, 41 patients with carotid artery stenosis treated by CEA between March 2015 and September 2018 were enrolled in this study. OBF was evaluated by laser speckle flowgraphy, which can measure the mean blur ratio (MBR) which is well correlated to the absolute retinal blood flow. Visual acuity was assessed before and after CEA by subjective improvement and objective visual assessment using CSV-1000, an instrument used to test contrast sensitivity.

RESULTS

OBF increased after CEA on the operated side (mean MBR 33.5 vs 38.2, p < 0.001) but not on the non-operated side (mean MBR 37.8 vs 37.5, p = 0.50). After CEA, 23 patients (56.1%) reported subjective visual improvement on the operated side. The mean CSV-1000 score among the patients with increased OBF after CEA (5.44 vs 5.88, p = 0.04) but not among those without increased OBF (5.48 vs 5.95, p = 0.09). The mean CSV-1000 scores increased significantly after CEA in 18 patients with decreased vision and decreased OBF (4.51 vs 5.37, p < 0.001), but not in the 23 patients without those (6.19 vs 6.31, p = 0.6).

CONCLUSION

CEA may successfully reverse visual dysfunction caused by chronic ocular ischemia due to carotid artery stenosis by increasing OBF.

Oxaliplatin-Associated Amaurosis Fugax

Oxaliplatin-associated amaurosis fugax has not been reported, and its clinical course and treatment remain largely unclear. A 70-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer was treated with the SOX regimen. After cycle 1 of oxaliplatin infusion, the patient realized that his right eye had visual field impairment, which he described as darkening of the right half of his visual field and loss of vision lasting about 1 min and occurring about 7 times a day. The daily frequency of this occurrence gradually decreased, and his visual field impairment improved in 1 week. However, as the same symptoms recurred from cycle 2 to cycle 5 of treatment, oxaliplatin was discontinued from cycle 6 and switched to S-1 monotherapy. Subsequently, the patient's amaurosis fugax improved. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing clinical course and treatment of oxaliplatin-associated amaurosis fugax.

Arterial Occlusions to the Eye: From Retinal Emboli to Ocular Ischemic Syndrome

: Abstract: A loss or lack of blood supply to the eye can result in acute loss of vision. The site of ischemia may be at the level of the retinal arterioles, the central retinal artery, or further back at the ophthalmic and internal carotid artery. Recognizing the symptoms and signs are important to help prevent permanent ischemic and irreversible blindness. The objective of this review article is to provide the general ophthalmologists with information on how to recognize the symptoms and to best manage these patients. The management is to investigate for the cause of the transient monocular visual loss and to apply secondary prevention to address atherosclerotic risk factors to prevent further ischemic events like a stroke.

Carotid artery stenosis, an underestimated cause of stroke recurrence in patients with ischaemic monocular visual loss

INTRODUCTION

Isolated monocular ischaemic events are thought to be low risk for stroke recurrence. In the presence of carotid stenosis however, the risks should not be treated similarly and surgical intervention should be considered at an early stage. The aim of this study was to determine the vascular risk profile and stroke recurrence in patients with ischaemic monocular visual loss.

METHODS AND METHODS

Consecutive records for all patients with monocular ischaemia were reviewed from January 2014 to October 2016. Stroke, transient ischaemic attack or monocular ischaemia recurrence within 90 days were recorded. Carotid stenosis was assessed with duplex ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography.

RESULTS

In total, 400 patients presented with monocular ischaemia; 391 had carotid imaging (97.8%). Causality was symptomatic carotid stenosis ≥ 50% in 53 (13.6%), including carotid stenosis ≥ 70% in 31 (7.9%). Patients with permanent visual loss (n = 131) were more likely to have significant stenosis compared with patients with transient visual loss (n = 260), 19.8% compared with 10.4% (P = 0.012). Recurrent stroke, transient ischaemic attack or monocular ischaemia within 90 days after presentation occurred in three patients (5.7%) in the carotid stenosis group, compared to three (0.9%) who did not have stenosis (P = 0.035). Age, male sex and hypertension were associated with carotid stenosis but hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and smoking were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Carotid stenosis ≥ 50% is present in patients with ocular ischaemia in approximately 20% of those with persistent visual loss and in 10% with transient visual loss. Those with carotid stenosis have a higher risk of stroke recurrence and should be considered urgent surgical intervention as other forms of stroke.

Modern approaches to diagnostics and treatment of migraine in children

This article reviews modern approaches to diagnostics and treatment of a very common and simultaneously underestimated and often maltreated disorder in children. It is fallacious management of migraine masked behind the diagnoses such as autonomic vessel dysfunction and vascular headache here in Ukraine. This is a tremendous problem and it should be solved with appropriate information spread across the medical community. Up-to-date classification according to the International Headache Society, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, investigation and treatment strategies are presented in the article. All supported data are com-pliant with guidelines of developed countries with evidence-based medicine (US, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Australia, New Zealand) enhanced with new trials and approved methods. Migraine management is a rapidly evolving concept, where major changes were done during recent years (transcranial Deep Brain Stimulation, vagus stimulation, CGRP-receptor mono-clonal antibodies). Considering disorder incidence and its impact on life quality and the existence of options for alleviating symptoms, this information is important for physicians who work with children, especially for general practitioners, pediatrics, pediatric and adult neurologists.

Statin-induced myopathy prevented by creatine administration

A 66-year-old woman with chronic myeloid leukaemia in nilotinib-induced remission was diagnosed with amaurosis fugax, caused by carotid stenosis. Serum cholesterol was 316 mg/dL (Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 213 mg/dL). Nilotinib was discontinued and replaced by interferon. Antiplatelet therapy and atorvastatin 40 mg/day were prescribed. Muscle pain and elevation of serum creatine kinase (CK) occurred; thus, atorvastatin was replaced by ezetimibe. Afterwards, muscle pain subsided and CK reverted to normal, but 2 years later serum cholesterol was still elevated at 218 mg/dL with LDL cholesterol 126 mg/dL. Simvastatin 5 mg/day was then started, but again muscle pain occurred and CK rose to 267 U/L. Simvastatin was stopped and serum cholesterol climbed to 252 mg/dL. Creatine was prescribed and simvastatin was reintroduced. Two months later, cholesterol was 171 mg/dL, CK was 72 U/L and there was no muscle pain. This case supports the view that creatine may prevent statin-induced myopathy.

Acute retinal arterial ischemia

Acute retinal arterial ischemia, which includes transient monocular vision loss (TMVL), branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO), is most commonly the consequence of an embolic phenomenon from the ipsilateral carotid artery, heart or aortic arch, leading to partial or complete occlusion of the central retinal artery (CRA) or its branches. Acute retinal arterial ischemia is the ocular equivalent of acute cerebral ischemia and is an ophthalmic and medical emergency. Patients with acute retinal arterial ischemia are at a high risk of having further vascular events, such as subsequent strokes and myocardial infarctions (MIs). Therefore, prompt diagnosis and urgent referral to appropriate specialists and centers is necessary for further work-up (such as brain magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion weighted imaging, vascular imaging, and cardiac monitoring and imaging) and potential treatment of an urgent etiology (e.g., carotid dissection or critical carotid artery stenosis). Since there are no proven, effective treatments to improve visual outcome following permanent retinal arterial ischemia (central or branch retinal artery occlusion), treatment must focus on secondary prevention measures to decrease the likelihood of subsequent ischemic events.

Risk of incident atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with retinal artery or vein occlusion: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The inter-relationships of atrial fibrillation (AF) to retinal vascular occlusions (whether retinal artery occlusion (RAO) or retinal venous occlusion (RVO)) remain unclear. It is unknown if a presentation of retinal artery or venous occlusions may indicate a new onset cardiac arrhythmia. To shed light on this association, we investigated the risk of new onset AF in patients with known RAO and RVO.

METHODS

Patients with retinal occlusions from 1997 to 2011 were identified through Danish nationwide registries and matched 1:5 according to sex and age. Cumulative incidence and unadjusted rates of AF according to retinal vascular occlusions (i.e. RAO or RVO) were determined. Hazard ratios (HR) of AF according to retinal vascular occlusion were adjusted for hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease and prior stroke/systemic thromboembolism/transient ischemic attack.

RESULTS

One thousand three hundred sixty-eight cases with retinal vascular occlusions were identified (median age 71.4 (inter quartile range (IQR); 61.2-79.8), 47.3% male). RAO constituted 706 cases (51.6%) and RVO 529 (38.7%). The rate of incident AF amongst all cases with retinal vascular occlusion was 1.74 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-2.06) compared to 1.22 (95% CI, 1.12-1.33) in the matched control group. The rate of AF in RAO was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.6-2.52) and 1.52 (1.15-2.01) in RVO. HRs of incident AF adjusted for cardiovascular comorbidities were 1.26 (95% CI; 1.04-1.53, p = 0.019) for any retinal vascular occlusion, 1.45 (95% CI; 1.10-1.89, p = 0.015) for RAO, and 1.02 (95% CI; 0.74-1.39, p = 0.920) for RVO.

CONCLUSIONS

A new diagnosis of retinal vascular occlusion in patients without prior AF was associated with increased risk of incident AF, particularly amongst patients with RAO. Awareness of AF in patients with retinal vascular occlusions is advised.

Management of Acute Retinal Ischemia: Follow the Guidelines!

Acute retinal arterial ischemia, including vascular transient monocular vision loss (TMVL) and branch (BRAO) and central retinal arterial occlusions (CRAO), are ocular and systemic emergencies requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. Guidelines recommend the combination of urgent brain magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging, vascular imaging, and clinical assessment to identify TMVL, BRAO, and CRAO patients at highest risk for recurrent stroke, facilitating early preventive treatments to reduce the risk of subsequent stroke and cardiovascular events. Because the risk of stroke is maximum within the first few days after the onset of visual loss, prompt diagnosis and triage are mandatory. Eye care professionals must make a rapid and accurate diagnosis and recognize the need for timely expert intervention by immediately referring patients with acute retinal arterial ischemia to specialized stroke centers without attempting to perform any further testing themselves. The development of local networks prompting collaboration among optometrists, ophthalmologists, and stroke neurologists should facilitate such evaluations, whether in a rapid-access transient ischemic attack clinic, in an emergency department-observation unit, or with hospitalization, depending on local resources.

Safety and Efficacy of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients With Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis Before Carotid Artery Stenting: A Proof-of-Concept, Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) can inhibit recurrent ischemic events effectively in patients with acute or chronic cerebral ischemia. However, it is still unclear whether RIPC can impede ischemic injury after carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis.

METHODS

Subjects with severe carotid artery stenosis were recruited in this randomized controlled study, and assigned to RIPC, sham, and no intervention (control) groups. All subjects received standard medical therapy. Subjects in the RIPC and sham groups underwent RIPC and sham RIPC twice daily, respectively, for 2 weeks before CAS. Plasma neuron-specific enolase and S-100B were used to evaluate safety, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and new ischemic diffusion-weighted imaging lesions were used to determine treatment efficacy. The primary outcomes were the presence of ≥1 newly ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging within 48 hours after stenting and clinical events within 6 months after stenting.

RESULTS

We randomly assigned 189 subjects in this study (63 subjects in each group). Both RIPC and sham RIPC procedures were well tolerated and completed with high compliance (98.41% and 95.24%, respectively). Neither plasma neuron-specific enolase levels nor S-100B levels changed significantly before and after treatment. No severe adverse event was attributed to RIPC and sham RIPC procedures. The incidence of new diffusion-weighted imaging lesions in the RIPC group (15.87%) was significantly lower than in the sham group (36.51%; relative risk, 0.44; 96% confidence interval, 0.20-0.91; P<0.01) and the control group (41.27%; relative risk, 0.39; 96% confidence interval, 0.21-0.82; P<0.01). The volumes of lesions were smaller in the RIPC group than in the control and sham groups (P<0.01 each). Ischemic events that occurred after CAS were 1 transient ischemic attack in the RIPC group, 2 strokes in the control group, and 2 strokes and 1 transient ischemic attack in the sham group, but these results were not significantly different among the 3 groups (P=0.597).

CONCLUSIONS

RIPC is safe in patients undergoing CAS, which may be able to decrease ischemic brain injury secondary to CAS. However, the mechanisms and effects of RIPC on clinical outcomes in this cohort of patients need further investigation.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01654666.

Evaluation of Fundus Blood Flow in Normal Individuals and Patients with Internal Carotid Artery Obstruction Using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy

Purpose

We investigated whether laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) results are comparable in both eyes and whether it is useful in the diagnosis of disparity in ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) patients.

Methods

We compared the mean blur rate (MBR) value for various fundus regions in both eyes of 41 healthy subjects and 15 internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) cases. We calculated the standard value of the Laterality Index (LI), which was the MBR comparison of both eyes in each of the regions, in the control subjects. We then investigated the correlation between both eyes for the LIs in the entire fundus, the degree of ICAO and visual function.

Results

The disparity of the LIs in both eyes was least in the entire area of the fundus in control subjects and there was a significant correlation between both eyes of the 41 healthy individuals (P = 0.019). Significant correlations were found for the LI, visual acuity and degree of ICAO. The specificity and sensitivity of LI in the entire area was 93.8% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

LSFG revealed normal individuals have symmetrical fundus blood flow. LSFG could detect OIS and might be a useful tool for detecting disparities in fundus blood flow.

Amaurosis fugax due to pleomorphic sarcoma in the left atrium

Purpose

This report describes a case of amaurosis fugax due to a rare primary cardiac sarcoma.

Observations

A patient who was recently diagnosed with left atrial pleomorphic sarcoma presented with a chief complaint of multiple episodes of intermittent vision loss in the right eye during the course of radiation therapy.

Conclusions and importance

The authors postulate emboli from the left atrial sarcoma entered systemic circulation and subsequently caused brief episodes of transient occlusion to retinal, ophthalmic and/or ciliary arteries leading to momentary retinal hypoxia. We believe this is a novel finding, previously unreported in the literature, of transient embolic occlusion without permanent visual sequelae due to a malignant primary cardiac pleomorphic sarcoma.

Amaurosis fugax - delay between symptoms and surgery by specialty

Purpose

To describe the time course of management of patients with amaurosis fugax and analyze differences in management by different specialties.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with amaurosis fugax and subjected to carotid ultrasound in 2004–2010 at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden (n=302) were included in this retrospective cohort study, and data were collected from medical records.

Results

The prevalence of significant carotid stenosis was 18.9%, and 14.2% were subjected to carotid endarterectomy. A trend of longer delay for surgery was noted for patients first consulting a general practitioner (P=0.069) as compared to hospital-based specialties. For 46.3% of the patients, an ophthalmologist was their first medical contact. No significant difference in time interval to endarterectomy was seen between ophthalmologists and neurologists/internists. Only 31.8% of the patients with significant carotid stenosis had carotid endarterectomy within 2 weeks from the debut of symptoms, and this proportion was smaller for patients residing outside the Gothenburg city area (P=0.038).

Conclusion

Initially consulting an ophthalmologist does not delay the time to ultrasound or carotid endarterectomy. The overall time from symptoms to surgery is longer than recommended for a majority of the patients, especially for patients from rural areas and for patients initially consulting a general practitioner.

Amaurosis fugax: risk factors and prevalence of significant carotid stenosis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and prevalence of carotid stenosis in patients with amaurosis fugax (AF).

Method

Patients diagnosed with AF and subjected to carotid ultrasound in 2004–2010 in Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg (n=302), were included, and data were retrospectively collected from medical records.

Results

The prevalence of significant carotid stenosis was 18.9%, and 14.2% of the subjects were subjected to carotid endarterectomy. Significant associations with risk of having ≥70% stenosis were male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26–5.46), current smoking (aOR: 6.26; 95% CI: 2.62–14.93), diabetes (aOR: 3.68; 95% CI: 1.37–9.90) and previous vasculitis (aOR: 10.78; 95% CI: 1.36–85.5). A majority of the patients (81.4%) was seen by an ophthalmologist prior to the first ultrasound. Only 1.7% of the patients exhibited retinal artery emboli at examination.

Conclusion

The prevalence of carotid stenosis among patients with AF is higher than has previously been demonstrated in stroke patients. An association with previously reported vascular risk factors and with vasculitis is seen in this patient group. Ocular findings are scarce.

A fatal case of primary cardiac chondrosarcoma presenting with amaurosis fugax

A 64-year-old previously healthy woman consulted her general practitioner because of recurrent episodes of right-sided monocular transient visual loss (ie, amaurosis fugax). At first, these symptoms were followed over time, but as the attacks worsened, and were accompanied by dizziness and general discomfort, the patient was admitted to the department of neurology for further investigations. CT of the brain was normal; however, during admission, the patient developed rapid atrial fibrillation and was transferred to the department of cardiology. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a massive tumour on the atrial side of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, partly obstructing the mitral valve inflow. The tumour was excised and a biological prosthetic mitral valve inserted. The tumour was histologically determined to be a highly malignant dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. After 6 months, the tumour relapsed and expanded aggressively to completely obstruct the mitral valve inflow, ultimately leading to cardiac arrest and death.

Vasospastic Amaurosis Fugax Diagnosed by Cerebral Angiography

We report a case of recurrent monocular blindness presumed to be caused by vasospasm, demonstrated by digital subtraction angiography.

CASE REPORT

A 65-year-old man presented with recurrent visual loss in the left eye for 2 years. He had histories of hypertension, cigarette smoking, and May-Thurner syndrome. The symptom occurred variably from twice a day to once a week and usually lasted for 5 minutes. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and ophthalmologic evaluation did not reveal any abnormality. Cerebral digital subtraction angiography was performed. On the left internal carotid angiogram, vasospasm occurred in the cervical portion of the left internal carotid artery and, subsequently, the blood flow to the left ophthalmic artery diminished. This phenomenon was reproducible and, in the absence of vasospasm, the ophthalmic artery was well visualized with no steno-occlusive lesion. Examination of the carotid duplex showed diffuse luminal narrowing and increased flow velocities in the left cervical internal carotid artery without atherosclerotic plaque. Treatment was started with nimodipine, which markedly reduced the attacks.

CONCLUSION

We assumed that vasomotor instability, which made the vessels vulnerable to spasm, may have caused a recurrent ocular symptom in our patient.

Redefining amaurosis fugax

Amaurosis fugax is a common term fraught with different interpretations. Disparities inunderstanding appear to be related to professional training. A new framework to facilitateinterdisciplinary communication and clinical research is presented.

Georg Friedrich Händel: a case of large vessel disease with complications in the eighteenth century

Georg Friedrich Händel was not only one of the greatest musical giants ever but also he was probably the first composer who was also the manager and promoter of his own works. Various myths embellish his various biographies. This is also true for his pathography: several articles written by authors from various specialties suggested him having suffered from psychiatric diseases, like cyclothymia or mania, and rheumatologic disorders, like arthritis, while others tended to interpret his recurrent palsies as typical sequelae of ischemic strokes. More recently, reports proposing lead poisoning as the main source of disease in Händel gained the attention of musical and lay press. During his last years of life, Händel was struck with blindness, which in his era had been interpreted as being due to cataracts. This led to three "coucher" operations, all of them without any lasting effect. Although a definite diagnosis cannot be proven from the original sources, the most plausible explanation for Händel's palsies and visual impairment may be based on one single context, i.e., cerebrovascular disease. The possible differential diagnosis will be discussed in this chapter.

Vision loss with bending over

A 66-year-old African American man presented with episodic transient visual loss triggered by bending forward. The initial examination did not suggest intraocular pathology and the patient was nearly sent for vascular evaluation given his cardiovascular risk factors. Fundus photographs taken during an episode of visual loss suggested an intraocular process, however. Gonioscopy revealed a microhyphema causing a "snow globe" effect in the anterior chamber, most likely related to recent bleb manipulation in the affected eye.

Retinal vein and artery occlusions: a risk factor for stroke in atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Retinal vascular occlusions may constitute an independent risk factor for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study on a nationwide cohort with atrial fibrillation from 1997 to 2008. The rate of stroke/systemic thromboembolism (TE)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) was determined for atrial fibrillation patients with and without a history of retinal vascular occlusion. A Cox regression analysis, adjusted for risk factors and medications, was performed to determine the independent predictive value of retinal arterial or venous occlusion for the risk of ischemic stroke, TE or TIA in atrial fibrillation patients.

RESULTS

We included 87 202 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. At baseline, a history of retinal arterial occlusion was diagnosed in 224 patients (0.26%) and a history of retinal venous occlusion in 361 (0.41%). Patients without retinal occlusion had a rate of stroke/TE/TIA of 4.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.44-4.60). For patients with retinal arterial occlusion, the rate of stroke/TE/TIA was 8.16 (95% CI 6.35-10.49) per 100 person-years, and for patients with retinal venous occlusion it was 7.28 (95% CI 5.93-8.94) per 100 person-years. In multivariate analysis, both retinal arterial occlusions (hazard ratio [HR] 1.39, 95% CI 1.08-1.79) and retinal venous occlusions (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.54) were associated with an increased risk of future stroke/TE/TIA.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of retinal arterial or retinal venous occlusion is associated with an increased risk of stroke/TE/TIA in patients with atrial fibrillation. Thus, prior retinal vascular occlusion may be considered as a previous thromboembolic event when evaluating stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Recurrent transient monocular blindness from stenotic central retinal artery

Transient monocular blindness (TMB) is caused by a temporary reduction of blood flow to the retina or optic nerve. Even though embolism from the ipsilateral carotid artery has been considered the main mechanism of TMB, the vascular pathology remains unknown in many patients. A 42-year-old man presented with recurrent transient visual loss in the left eye for 2 months. The attacks tended to develop more frequently when his head was bent down. Fluorescence angiography during an attack revealed hypoperfusion of the left central retinal artery (CRA) and cerebral angiography documented a focal isolated stenosis of the CRA at the origin. Aspirin and nimodipine reduced the attacks markedly. Stenosis of the CRA may be a cause of TMB. Intermittent vasospasm in addition to static hypoperfusion may have caused TMB in our patient with isolated CRA stenosis.

Patterns of non-embolic transient monocular visual field loss

The aim of this study was to systematically describe the semiology of non-embolic transient monocular visual field loss (neTMVL). We conducted a retrospective case note analysis of patients from Moorfields Eye Hospital (1995-2007). The variables analysed were age, age of onset, gender, past medical history or family history of migraine, eye affected, onset, duration and offset, perception (pattern, positive and negative symptoms), associated headache and autonomic symptoms, attack frequency, and treatment response to nifedipine. We identified 77 patients (28 male and 49 female). Mean age of onset was 37 years (range 14-77 years). The neTMVL was limited to the right eye in 36 % to the left in 47 % and occurred independently in either eye in 5 % of cases. A past medical history of migraine was present in 12 % and a family history in 8 %. Headache followed neTMVL in 14 % and was associated with autonomic features in 3 %. The neTMB was perceived as grey in 35 %, white in 21 %, black in 16 % and as phosphenes in 9 %. Most frequently neTMVL was patchy 20 %. Recovery of vision frequently resembled attack onset in reverse. In 3 patients without associated headache the loss of vision was permanent. Treatment with nifedipine was initiated in 13 patients with an attack frequency of more than one per week and reduced the attack frequency in all. In conclusion, this large series of patients with neTMVL permits classification into five types of reversible visual field loss (grey, white, black, phosphenes, patchy). Treatment response to nifidipine suggests some attacks to be caused by vasospasm.

Concurrent acute brain infarcts in patients with monocular visual loss

OBJECTIVE

Embolism from a proximal source to the retinal circulation could be a sign of embolism from the same source to the hemispheric circulation. We sought to determine the frequency of acute brain infarcts on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in patients with monocular visual loss of presumed ischemic origin (MVL).

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 129 consecutive patients with MVL secondary to retinal ischemia. All patients underwent DWI, comprehensive ophthalmologic and neurologic examination, and diagnostic evaluations for the underlying etiology. Statistical analyses explored univariate and multivariate predictors of DWI evidence of acute brain infarcts.

RESULTS

DWI revealed concurrent acute brain infarct(s) in 31 of the 129 patients (24%). The probability of positive DWI was higher in embolic versus nonembolic MVL (28 vs 8%, p = 0.04), in MVL characterized by permanent visual loss versus transient symptoms (33 vs 18%, p = 0.04), and in MVL associated with concurrent hemispheric symptoms versus isolated MVL (53 vs 20%, p < 0.01). Patients with positive DWI were more likely to harbor a major underlying etiology as compared to those with normal DWI (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-9.4).

INTERPRETATION

This study demonstrates that MVL does not always represent an isolated disease of the retina; approximately 1 of every 4 patients with MVL demonstrates acute brain infarcts on DWI. Because patients with concurrent brain infarcts are more likely to exhibit a cardiac or vascular source of embolism, imaging evidence of brain injury in patients with MVL may be a useful marker to guide the timing and extent of diagnostic examinations.

Recurrent Amaurosis Fugax in a Patient after Stanford Type A Dissection Depending on Blood Pressure and Haemoglobin Level

Purpose. A transient painless monocular visual loss due to a decrease in retinal circulation—also known as “amaurosis fugax”—often precedes acute territorial cerebral ischaemia. The case we present underlines the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic workup in patients with amaurosis fugax. Case Report. A 44-year-old man who had suffered from a dissection of the ascending aorta (Stanford Type A) five months ago presented with recurrent monocular vision problems. Episodes with sectional vision loss mainly occurred in combination with low blood pressure levels. Furthermore, the haemoglobin level was chronically low (Hb 9.7 mg/dL), and the patient was by mistake on a simultaneous therapy with phenprocoumon and unfractionated heparin. Carotid artery duplex scanning revealed a high-grade stenosis of the proximal right common carotid artery. MR imaging corroborated hypoperfusion in brain area corresponding to the right MCA. Conclusion. Our patient is an example in whom transient retinal ischaemic attacks may originate from haemodynamic reasons.

Sleep-induced amaurosis fugax

Amaurosis fugax is a manifestation of retinal ischemia, commonly described in the setting of carotid atherosclerotic disease. Thromboembolic, and less frequently, hemodynamic mechanisms have been described as responsible for producing negative symptoms of transient monocular vision loss during periods of wakefulness. We report an unusual presentation in which the patient became symptomatic during sleep. Initially, photopsias-positive symptoms were experienced, which caused the patient to awaken; this was immediately followed by transient monocular vision loss. Carotid endarterectomy was curative.

[Ocular ischemic syndrome improved by stent placement for stenosis at the orifice of the left common carotid artery]

Herein, we present a case of amaurosis fugax in a 76-year-old female with high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and chronic atrial fibrillation who frequently suffered from transient visual impairment of the left eye. Color Doppler imaging of the flow profile in the left ophthalmic artery and the left common carotid artery revealed stenosis in the proximal portion of the left common carotid artery. Aortography revealed severe stenosis of the left common carotid artery at its orifice. The left external carotid artery was not observed as no collateral circulation from the left external carotid artery to the left ophthalmic artery was present. The presence of severe stenosis of the left common carotid artery at its orifice was considered to have caused the amaurosis fugax of the left eye, due to a reduction in the blood supply from both the left external carotid artery and the left internal carotid artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting was successfully performed to dilate the stenosis at the orifice of the left common carotid artery with the aim of restoring visual function by improving the blood supply to the left ophthalmic artery. After stenting, angiography of the left common carotid artery showed improved blood supply in the left ophthalmic artery. The patient was followed up for 2 years after CAS, and no recurrence of amaurosis fugax or rubeosis iridis were observed. In this case, color Doppler imaging was useful for diagnosing and evaluating flow dynamics.

Carotid artery occlusive disease and ocular manifestations: Importance of identifying patients at risk

Ocular manifestations of carotid artery occlusive disease, when present, warrant further systemic workup including carotid artery Doppler ultrasound scan. Vascular ocular pathology that may indicate underlying carotid artery disease includes amaurosis fugax, retinal emboli, ocular ischemic syndrome, retinal vascular occlusions, and glaucoma. Early atherosclerotic changes, however, may remain undetected with carotid artery Doppler ultrasound scan. Risk factors for atherosclerosis should be assessed, and additional imaging to detect underlying pathophysiology of carotid artery occlusive disease may also be indicated for preventative management. A review of the literature is conducted to determine the association of ocular sequelae with hemodynamically significant carotid artery stenosis. The role of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation as an independent predictor for cardiovascular disease is also discussed.

Ocular vascular thrombotic events: a diagnostic window to familial thrombophilia (compound factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene heterozygosity) and thrombosis

In a 12-member, 3-generation kindred with conjoint inheritance of G1691A factor V Leiden (FVL) and G20210A prothrombin gene (PTG) mutations, identified through a proband with amaurosis fugax and his father with nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), the authors' hypothesis was that ocular thrombosis was a diagnostic window to familial thrombophilia-thrombosis. The authors used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) measures for thrombophilia (FVL, PTG, C677T-A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR], platelet glycoprotein PLA1A2) and hypofibrinolysis (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G4G). The 39-year-old white male proband, with amaurosis fugax and transient ischemic attacks (TIA), was found to be a compound heterozygote for FVL and PTG mutations. His symptoms resolved only after coumadin. His 44-year-old brother (deep venous thrombosis [DVT]) and 46-year-old sister (DVT, pulmonary embolus [PE]) were compound FVL-PTG gene heterozygotes. Of 4 asymptomatic children born to these 3 siblings, 2 were FVL heterozygotes and 2 PTG heterozygotes. The proband's 69-year-old father, with NAION and ischemic stroke, had PTG heterozygosity, familial high factor VIII, and compound MTHFR C677T-A1298C mutation with homocysteinemia. The proband's 61-year-old aunt had PTG heterozygosity, recurrent DVT, and mesenteric artery thrombosis. The proband's 67-year-old mother, free of thrombotic events, was a FVL heterozygote, had high factor VIII, and PAI-1 4G4G homozygosity. In this extended kindred, ocular thrombotic events (amaurosis fugax, NAION) were associated with variegated thrombotic events, including TIA, ischemic stroke, DVT, PE, and mesenteric artery thrombosis, and opened a diagnostic window to family screening and treatment for complex thrombophilias, which had previously been undiagnosed.