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Taroza S, Jatužis D, Matijošaitis V, Raugelė S, Valaikienė J. Central retinal artery occlusion or retinal stroke: a neurosonologist's perspective. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1397751. [PMID: 38915799 PMCID: PMC11194405 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1397751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) or retinal stroke, which is usually a vision-threatening condition, timely diagnosis is imperative to improve the chances of retinal preservation and to establish adequate secondary prevention measures. Even though retinal strokes have been traditionally assigned to the field of ophthalmology, while considering reperfusion therapy as the only way to avoid permanent vision loss, we suggest prompt evaluation of CRAO causes (primarily related to cardiovascular risk factors) performed by a well-organized interdisciplinary team (ophthalmologist and neurologist) in a neurovascular center with stroke expertise. Therefore, the most suitable adjunct method for rapidly diagnosing non-arteritic CRAO could be target transorbital ultrasound, performed by an experienced neurologist/neurosonologist in the stroke unit. Consequently, after an ophthalmological assessment, a final decision on thrombolytic therapy could be made. We accept that further research is obviously needed to determine whether transorbital ultrasound could replace ophthalmological investigation in the case of a suspected acute retinal stroke. We assert that retinal stroke requires interdisciplinary treatment in cooperation with neurologists and ophthalmologists, with an additive value for each to achieve the best results for the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saulius Taroza
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
- Klaipėda University Hospital, Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Dalius Jatužis
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vaidas Matijošaitis
- Department of Neurology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Saulius Raugelė
- Klaipėda University Hospital, Klaipėda, Lithuania
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipėda University, Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Jurgita Valaikienė
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Bonnan M, Debeugny S. Giant-cell arteritis related strokes: scoping review of mechanisms and rethinking treatment strategy? Front Neurol 2023; 14:1305093. [PMID: 38130834 PMCID: PMC10733536 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1305093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is a rare and severe complication of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Although early diagnosis and treatment initiation are essential, the mechanism of stroke is often related to vasculitis complicated by arterial stenosis and occlusion. Its recurrence is often attributed to early steroid resistance or late GCA relapse, so immunosuppressive treatment is often reinforced. However, many questions concerning the mechanisms of stroke remain elusive, and no review to date has examined the whole data set concerning GCA-related stroke. We therefore undertook this scoping review. GCA-related stroke does not necessarily display general signs and inflammatory parameters are sometimes normal, so clinicians should observe caution. Ischemic lesions often show patterns predating watershed areas and are associated with stenosis or thrombosis of the respective arteries, which are often bilateral. Lesions predominate in the siphon in the internal carotid arteries, whereas all the vertebral arteries may be involved with a predominance in the V3-V4 segments. Ultrasonography of the cervical arteries may reveal edema of the intima (halo sign), which is highly sensitive and specific of GCA, and precedes stenosis. The brain arteries are spared although very proximal arteritis may rarely occur, if the patient has microstructural anatomical variants. Temporal artery biopsy reveals the combination of mechanisms leading to slit-like stenosis, which involves granulomatous inflammation and intimal hyperplasia. The lumen is sometimes occluded by thrombi (<15%), suggesting that embolic lesions may also occur, although imaging studies have not provided strong evidence for this. Moreover, persistence of intimal hyperplasia might explain persisting arterial stenosis, which may account for delayed stroke occurring in watershed areas. Other possible mechanisms of stroke are also discussed. Overall, GCA-related stroke mainly involves hemodynamic mechanisms. Besides early diagnosis and treatment initiation, future studies could seek to establish specific preventive or curative treatments using angioplasty or targeting intimal proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Bonnan
- Service de Neurologie, Hôpital Delafontaine, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Stephane Debeugny
- Département d'Information Médicale, Centre Hospitalier de Pau, Pau, France
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Gröschel K, Harrer JU, Schminke U, Stegemann E, Allendörfer J. Ultrasound assessment of brain supplying arteries (transcranial). ULTRASCHALL IN DER MEDIZIN (STUTTGART, GERMANY : 1980) 2023; 44:468-486. [PMID: 37832531 DOI: 10.1055/a-2103-4981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonography of intracranial arteries is a non-invasive and highly efficient method for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with cerebrovascular diseases, also in the bedside setting of the critically ill. For reliable assessment and interpretation of sonographic findings, the technique requires - apart from dedicated anatomic and pathophysiological knowledge of cerebral arteries and their hemodynamics - the comprehension of alternative imaging modalities such as CT or MR angiography. This article reviews the transcranial color-coded duplex sonographic (TCCS) examination technique including the transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) for a standardized ultrasound assessment of the intracranial arteries and typical pathological cases. As a complementary tool, transorbital ultrasound for the assessment of the optic nerve sheath diameter and adjacent structures is also described in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Gröschel
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Judith U Harrer
- Neurology, Private Practice Villa Pfahler, St. Ingbert, Germany
- Neurology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Schminke
- Neurology, University Medicine, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Emilia Stegemann
- Clinic for internal medicine, diabetology and angiology, Agaplesion Diakonie Clinics, Kassel, Germany
- Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Giessen-Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jens Allendörfer
- Neurology, Asklepios Neurologic Clinic Bad Salzhausen, Nidda, Germany
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Bosch P, Bond M, Dejaco C, Ponte C, Mackie SL, Falzon L, Schmidt WA, Ramiro S. Imaging in diagnosis, monitoring and outcome prediction of large vessel vasculitis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis informing the 2023 update of the EULAR recommendations. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003379. [PMID: 37620113 PMCID: PMC10450079 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To update the evidence on imaging for diagnosis, monitoring and outcome prediction in large vessel vasculitis (LVV) to inform the 2023 update of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations on imaging in LVV. METHODS Systematic literature review (SLR) (2017-2022) including prospective cohort and cross-sectional studies (>20 participants) on diagnostic, monitoring, outcome prediction and technical aspects of LVV imaging. Diagnostic accuracy data were meta-analysed in combination with data from an earlier (2017) SLR. RESULTS The update retrieved 38 studies, giving a total of 81 studies when combined with the 2017 SLR. For giant cell arteritis (GCA), and taking clinical diagnosis as a reference standard, low risk of bias (RoB) studies yielded pooled sensitivities and specificities (95% CI) of 88% (82% to 92%) and 96% (95% CI 86% to 99%) for ultrasound (n=8 studies), 81% (95% CI 71% to 89%) and 98% (95% CI 89% to 100%) for MRI (n=3) and 76% (95% CI 67% to 83%) and 95% (95% CI 71% to 99%) for fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET, n=4), respectively. Compared with studies assessing cranial arteries only, low RoB studies with ultrasound assessing both cranial and extracranial arteries revealed a higher sensitivity (93% (95% CI 88% to 96%) vs 80% (95% CI 71% to 87%)) with comparable specificity (94% (95% CI 83% to 98%) vs 97% (95% CI 71% to 100%)). No new studies on diagnostic imaging for Takayasu arteritis (TAK) were found. Some monitoring studies in GCA or TAK reported associations of imaging with clinical signs of inflammation. No evidence was found to determine whether imaging severity might predict worse clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION Ultrasound, MRI and FDG-PET revealed a good performance for the diagnosis of GCA. Cranial and extracranial vascular ultrasound had a higher pooled sensitivity with similar specificity compared with limited cranial ultrasound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Bosch
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Milena Bond
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital of Bruneck (ASAA-SABES), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsius Medical University, Brunico, Italy
| | - Christian Dejaco
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital of Bruneck (ASAA-SABES), Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsius Medical University, Brunico, Italy
| | - Cristina Ponte
- Rheumatology Research Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, EPE, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sarah Louise Mackie
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Louise Falzon
- Health Economics and Decision Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Wolfgang A Schmidt
- Department of Rheumatology, Immanuel Krankenhaus Berlin, Medical Centre for Rheumatology Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sofia Ramiro
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Rheumatology, Zuyderland Medical Center, Heerlen, The Netherlands
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Galust H, Banks S, Riscinti M. Point‐of‐care ultrasound in the detection of central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with recent COVID‐19. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2022; 3:e12842. [PMCID: PMC9660847 DOI: 10.1002/emp2.12842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Galust
- Denver Health Residency in Emergency Medicine Denver Colorado USA
| | - Sarah Banks
- Denver Health Residency in Emergency Medicine Denver Colorado USA
| | - Mathew Riscinti
- Denver Health Residency in Emergency Medicine Denver Colorado USA
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Wenzel DA, Poli S, Casagrande M, Druchkiv V, Spitzer MS, Bartz-Schmidt KU, Grohmann C, Schultheiss M. Inner Retinal Layer Hyperreflectivity Is an Early Biomarker for Acute Central Retinal Artery Occlusion. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:854288. [PMID: 35872772 PMCID: PMC9299355 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.854288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate inner retinal hyperreflectivity on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a potential biomarker indicating acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Methods A total of 56 patients at two university hospitals with acute CRAO (symptom onset ≤48 h) were included in this retrospective study. The optical intensity of the inner retinal layers was determined in both eyes and the relationship between symptom onset and inner retinal layer optical intensity in OCT scans compared to the unaffected fellow eye was analyzed. Several differential diagnoses [central retinal vein occlusion, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, diabetic macular edema, and subretinal fibrosis/disciform scar (Junius-Kuhnt)] served as controls to validate optical intensity-based diagnosis of CRAO. Results CRAO strongly correlated with an increased inner retinal layer hyperreflectivity in this cohort with acute CRAO with a time since symptom onset ranging from 1.1 to 48.0 h. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.99 to confirm CRAO with a true positive rate of 0.93 and a false positive rate of 0.02. No correlation between optical intensity and time since symptom onset was noticeable. None of the differential diagnoses did show an elevated optical intensity of the inner retinal layers as it was detectable in CRAO. Conclusion OCT-based determination of inner retinal layer hyperreflectivity is a very promising biomarker for a prompt diagnosis of CRAO in an emergency setting. This may be of major interest to speed up the administration of a possible thrombolytic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A. Wenzel
- University Eye Hospital, Centre for Ophthalmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sven Poli
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maria Casagrande
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vasyl Druchkiv
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin S. Spitzer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Grohmann
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schultheiss
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Maximilian Schultheiss,
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Jianu DC, Jianu SN, Dan TF, Munteanu G, Bîrdac CD, Motoc AGM, Docu Axelerad A, Petrica L, Gogu AE. Ultrasound Technologies and the Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121801. [PMID: 34944617 PMCID: PMC8698303 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a primary autoimmune vasculitis that specifically affects medium-sized extracranial arteries, like superficial temporal arteries (TAs). The most important data to be considered for the ultrasound (US) diagnosis of temporal arteritis are stenosis, acute occlusions and “dark halo” sign, which represent the edema of the vascular wall. The vessel wall thickening of large vessels in GCA can be recognized by the US, which has high sensitivity and is facile to use. Ocular complications of GCA are common and consist especially of anterior arterial ischemic optic neuropathies or central retinal artery occlusion with sudden, painless, and sharp loss of vision in the affected eye. Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels (showing low-end diastolic velocities and a high resistance index) is essential to quickly differentiate the mechanism of ocular involvement (arteritic versus non-arteritic), since the characteristics of TAs on US do not correspond with ocular involvement on GCA. GCA should be cured immediately with systemic corticosteroids to avoid further visual loss of the eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragoș Cătălin Jianu
- Department of Neurosciences-Division of Neurology, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (D.C.J.); (A.E.G.)
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- First Department of Neurology, Pius Brânzeu Emergency County Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Silviana Nina Jianu
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Centre for Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Pathology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Traian Flavius Dan
- Department of Neurosciences-Division of Neurology, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (D.C.J.); (A.E.G.)
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- First Department of Neurology, Pius Brânzeu Emergency County Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Correspondence: (T.F.D.); (G.M.); Tel.: +40-745035178 (T.F.D.); +40-746151426 (G.M.)
| | - Georgiana Munteanu
- Department of Neurosciences-Division of Neurology, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (D.C.J.); (A.E.G.)
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- First Department of Neurology, Pius Brânzeu Emergency County Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Centre for Molecular Research in Nephrology and Vascular Pathology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- Correspondence: (T.F.D.); (G.M.); Tel.: +40-745035178 (T.F.D.); +40-746151426 (G.M.)
| | - Claudiu Dumitru Bîrdac
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- First Department of Neurology, Pius Brânzeu Emergency County Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Andrei Gheorghe Marius Motoc
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Any Docu Axelerad
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- Department of Neurology, General Medicine Faculty, Ovidius University, 900527 Constanța, Romania
| | - Ligia Petrica
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- Department of Internal Medicine II-Division of Nephrology, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
| | - Anca Elena Gogu
- Department of Neurosciences-Division of Neurology, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (D.C.J.); (A.E.G.)
- Centre for Cognitive Research in Neuropsychiatric Pathology (NeuroPsy-Cog), Department of Neurosciences, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (C.D.B.); (A.G.M.M.); (A.D.A.); (L.P.)
- First Department of Neurology, Pius Brânzeu Emergency County Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
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[Acute diagnostics of central retinal artery occlusion and biomarkers of ischemia : Diagnostics with consequences?]. Ophthalmologe 2021; 118:1099-1106. [PMID: 34535826 DOI: 10.1007/s00347-021-01495-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) represents an ophthalmological emergency with neurological implications, which must be immediately investigated and treated. Intravenous thrombolysis could improve the prognosis only within the first 4.5 h due to limited retinal tolerance to ischemia. Accordingly, ophthalmological acute diagnostics should be reduced to the minimum necessary followed by immediate referral to a clinic with neurovascular expertise. The typical anamnesis is well-suited for triaging and should be carried out ín a standardized way in order to determine the onset of symptoms as exactly as possible. In addition to pathognomic findings in fundoscopy, there are characteristic ischemia-related changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT), which document ischemia in the inner retina and under some circumstances can provide inferences for the onset of ischemia. OBJECTIVE This review article summarizes the acute ophthalmological diagnostic management of acute CRAO with a focus on the typical OCT and transorbital ultrasound (TOUS) findings and discusses their potential use as ischemic biomarkers. CONCLUSION Characteristic biomarkers make OCT an important diagnostic tool in the management of acute CRAO. Additional information can be obtained by TOUS. With an evidence-based treatment established in the future both tools could be used for indications for treatment and for estimating the prognosis.
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Caja KR, Griffith KM, Roth KR, Worrilow CC, Greenberg MR, Doherty TB. Detection of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion by Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: A Case Series. Cureus 2021; 13:e16142. [PMID: 34367764 PMCID: PMC8330491 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.16142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare, but serious, diagnosis that can lead to blindness, most often due to thromboembolic disease. In the emergency department (ED), CRAO can present as acute, painless loss of vision. Physicians need quick ways to rule in this diagnosis due to the time-sensitive nature of the event. We describe two patients in this cases series who present to the same ED with unilateral painless vision loss and histories that include notable risk factors such as thromboembolic and atherosclerotic disease. Upon arrival, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) done at the bedside allowed for quick determination of CRAO. The importance of this case series is to emphasize the efficacy of POCUS in evaluating patients with painless vision loss in the ED setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Caja
- Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, USA
| | - Kaylan M Griffith
- Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, USA
| | - Kevin R Roth
- Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, USA
| | - Charles C Worrilow
- Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, USA
| | - Marna R Greenberg
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine/Lehigh Valley Health Network Campus, Allentown, USA
| | - Theodore B Doherty
- Department of Emergency and Hospital Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, USA
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