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Clinical Trial
. 1998 Feb;82(2):162-7.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.82.2.162.

Effect of isovolaemic haemodilution on visual outcome in branch retinal vein occlusion

H C Chen  1 , J Wiek, A Gupta, A Luckie, E M Kohner
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effect of isovolaemic haemodilution on visual outcome in branch retinal vein occlusion

H C Chen et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 1998 Feb.

Abstract

Aims: To assess the efficacy of isovolaemic haemodilution therapy (IHT) in the treatment of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: Patients presenting with BRVO between 1 July 1991 and 31 August 1993 were eligible for inclusion and randomised into treatment and control groups. Patients randomised to receive IHT were treated for 6 weeks with venesection and volume replacement using hydroxyethylstarch, a plasma expander. The target haematocrit was 35%. Follow up was for 1 year.

Results: The baseline visual acuity of the two groups was similar at 0.74 and 0.75 logMAR units (Snellen 6/36), for the IHT and control groups, respectively. At 6 weeks, visual acuity in the IHT group had improved by 0.20 logMAR units (2 lines on the Bailey-Lovie chart) (p = 0.0001). Vision was unchanged in the control group. At 1 year, the IHT group exhibited an improvement of 0.43 logMAR units. By comparison, the improvement in the control group at 1 year was significantly less at 0.17 logMAR units (p = 0.03). The final visual acuity in the IHT and control groups was 0.30 (Snellen 6/12) and 0.60 (Snellen 6/24) logMAR units, respectively.

Conclusions: The results support the theory that IHT has a positive effect on the visual outcome in patients with BRVO.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean visual acuity. Each point shows the mean visual acuity (vertical bars, mean (SEM)) in both groups of patients from entry into the study to 1 year. The visual acuity is presented in logMAR units; a decreasing value indicates an improving visual acuity. The p value at which the difference between the two groups reaches statistical significance is shown.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Visual acuity at 6 weeks. This presents the visual acuity at entry into the study and at 6 weeks. Values on the diagonal line are those experiencing no change; those above the line improved and those below deteriorated. (B) Visual acuity at 1 year. This presents the visual acuity at entry into the study and at 1 year. Values on the diagonal line are those experiencing no change; those above the line improved and those below deteriorated.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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