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Evaluation of traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a case-control study

  • Neuro-Ophthalmology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a multifactorial disease that is caused by an infarction of the vessels that supply the optic nerve head. This study aims at evaluating the role of traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors on the development of NAION.

Methods

A total of 85 newly diagnosed NAION patients and 107 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were studied. All participants underwent blood testing for homocysteine and lipoprotein(a). Plasma levels of vitamin B6 and B12, and folic acid were also determined. Plasma values of all these parameters were evaluated as continuous variables, by a logarithmic transformation. In addition, traditional cardiovascular risk factors were considered.

Results

With univariate analysis, higher values of homocysteine and Lp(a) (OR 4.24, 95% CI 2.01–8.94, p < 0.0001; OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04–1.67, p = 0.03, respectively) and lower values of vitamin B6 (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.25–0.76, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with NAION. At multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, gender, smoking habit, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, sleep apnea, and thrombophilic risk factors, the higher homocysteine and Lp(a) values (OR 5.74, 95% CI 2.41–13.67, p = 0.0001; OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.01–1.63, p = 0.04) and lower vitamin B6 values (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23–0.77, p = 0.005) maintained their significant relationship with NAION.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that elevated plasma homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) levels, as well as low vitamin B6 levels, may increase the risk of developing NAION. A screening for these thrombophilic markers could be useful in subjects experiencing NAION.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 85-50134, Florence, Italy

    Barbara Giambene, Andrea Sodi & Ugo Menchini

  2. Department of Medical and Surgical Critical Care, Thrombosis Centre, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Sofi, Rossella Marcucci, Sandra Fedi, Rosanna Abbate & Domenico Prisco

Authors
  1. Barbara Giambene
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  2. Andrea Sodi
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  3. Francesco Sofi
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Correspondence to Barbara Giambene.

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The authors have full control of all primary data and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.

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Giambene, B., Sodi, A., Sofi, F. et al. Evaluation of traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: a case-control study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247, 693–697 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0981-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0981-6

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