Intraarterial Thrombolysis for Central Retinal Artery Occlusion.

Kwon,  O Ki; Jung,  Chul Kyu; Whang,  Kyo Jun; Kim,  Byung Chul; Jung,  Eun A; Han,  Moon Hee

Review

Neurointervention 2008;3(2):69-74.

O Ki Kwon, Chul Kyu Jung, Kyo Jun Whang, Byung Chul Kim, Eun A Jung, Moon Hee Han

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea. kwonoki@korea.com
²Department of Radiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Korea.
³Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.

Abstract

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) typically causes severe and permanent visual loss in the affected eye and vision does not recover in 90% of the patients. It is believed that it occurs by occlusion of the central retinal artery with small emboli from atherosclerotic plaque of internal cerebral artery. Various methods have been introduced to recanalize the occluded artery and remove emboli but considered to fail except thrombolytic therapy. Retina is a part of the brain so basically CRAO is corresponding to acute occlusion of intracerebral artery and retinal ischemia is to cerebral stroke. Accordingly rapid procedure within therapeutic time window, choosing appropriate drugs and doses, reducing hemorrhagic and ischemic complications associated with neurovascular intervention is very important. However, clinical significance of CRAO is much different from that of acute cerebral arterial occlusion, therefore, neurointerventionists should perform this procedure within appropriate range of safety.

Key Words: Central retinal artery occlusion; Intraarterial thrombolysis