Usefulness of ocular ultrasound for monitoring acute retinal arterial ischemia.

INTRODUCTION

The ocular ultrasound spot sign negatively predicts the success of thrombolytic treatment in retinal arterial occlusions. We evaluated the presence of the spot sign in these patients.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective study of patients with acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) or its branches (BRAO). An ocular ultrasound was performed to assess the presence of spot sign.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were included, 13 CRAO and 7 BRAO. Carotid stenosis was the most common etiology, in 50%, 7 CRAO and 3 BRAO. A spot sign was observed in 9 patients (45%), 7 CRAO and 2 BRAO. We did not observe significant differences between patients with CRAO and BRAO. Patients with the spot sign were significantly older: 73 (±9) vs. 66 (±6) years (p=0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular ultrasound is very useful in the evaluation of patients with acute retinal ischemia. More than 50% of CRAOs and one in 4 with BRAOs have the spot sign and would not benefit from systemic thrombolysis.