Thrombophilic mutations and risk of retinal vein occlusion

Mutações trombofílicas e risco de oclusão venosa retiniana

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Thrombophilic mutations and risk of retinal vein occlusion

Mutações trombofílicas e risco de oclusão venosa retiniana

Ana Luiza Biancardi^I; Telma Gadelha^II; Wander Inturias Sergillo Borges^III; Haroldo Vieira de Moraes Jr.^IV; Nelson Spector^V

^IMaster´s degree student in Ophthalmology at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil

^IIAdjunct Professor of the Service of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine - UFRJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil

^IIIPhysician of the Instituto Brasileiro de Oftalmologia - IBOL - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil

^IVPostdoctorate degree in Ophthalmology from the Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP- São Paulo (SP) - Brazil. Adjunct Professor, Head of the Service of Uveitis and Coordinator of Graduate Courses at the Department of Ophthalmology - UFRJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil

^VFull Professor of the Service of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The association of retinal vein occlusion and hereditary thrombophilia abnormalities is not established, with controversial results in the literature. This study investigates the association between retinal vein occlusion and three thrombophilic mutations: factor V 1691A (factor V Leiden), prothrombin 20210A (PT 20210A) and homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677T (MTHFR 677TT).

METHODS: 55 consecutive retinal vein occlusion patients and 55 controls matched by age, gender and race, were tested for the presence of the following mutations: factor V Leiden, PT 20210A and MTHFR 677TT. The frequencies of the three mutations in cases and controls were compared.

RESULTS: Factor V Leiden was found in 3.6% of patients and in 0% of controls; PT 20210A was found in 1.8% of patients and 3.6% of controls, (matched-pair odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 5.51); MTHFR 677TT was found in 9% of patients and 9% of controls (matched-pair odds ratio, 1; 95% confidence interval, 0.92 to 3.45). Arterial hypertension was more frequent in patients than controls (matched-pair odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 9.21).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that thrombophilic mutations are not risk factors for RVO. Routine investigation of hereditary thrombophilia in these patients is not justified.

Keywords: Retinal vein occlusion; Risk factors; Thrombophilia; Factor V; Prothrombin; Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH2)

RESUMO

OBJETIVOS: A associação entre oclusão venosa retiniana e trombofilias hereditárias não está estabelecida, com resultados controversos na literatura. O presente estudo investiga a associação entre a oclusão venosa retiniana e três mutações trombofílicas: fator V 1691A (fator V Leiden), protrombina 20210A (PT 20210A) e mutação C677T do gene da metileno-tetra-hidro-folato redutase (MTHFR 677TT).

MÉTODOS: Cinquenta e cinco pacientes portadores de oclusão venosa retiniana e 55 controles pareados por idade, sexo e raça foram testados para a presença das seguintes mutações: fator V Leiden, PT 20210A e MTHFR 677TT. As freqüências das três mutações em casos e controles foram comparadas.

RESULTADOS: Fator V Leiden foi encontrado em 3,6% dos pacientes e em 0% dos controles; PT 20210A foi encontrada em 1.8% dos pacientes e em 3,6% dos controles, (odds ratio, 0,5; 95% IC, 0,04 to 5,51); MTHFR 677TT foi encontrada em 9% dos pacientes e em 9% dos controles (odds ratio, 1; 95% IC, 0,92 to 3,45). Hipertensão arterial foi encontrada mais freqüentemente em pacientes do que em controles (odds ratio, 3,4; 95% IC, 1,25 to 9,21).

CONCLUSÕES: O presente estudo sugere que mutações trombofílicas não são fatores de risco para oclusão venosa retiniana. A investigação rotineira para trombofilias hereditárias neste grupo de pacientes não é indicada.

Descritores: Oclusão da veia retiniana; Fatores de risco; Trombofilia; Fator V; Protrombina; Metilenotetraidrofolato redutase (NADPH2)

INTRODUCTION

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness, especially in the elderly^(1-2). Coagulation abnormalities, changes in blood vessel walls and systemic conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus seem to be associated with RVO^(1-2). However, in many cases none of these factors are present, and the question of hidden risk factors is raised.

Three highly prevalent mutations have been described in association with thrombosis: factor V Leiden (FV 1691A)⁽³⁾, the prothrombin variant (PT 20210A)⁽⁴⁾ and homozygosity for the thermolabile methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677TT)⁽⁵⁾. These mutations increase the risk of thrombosis through different mechanisms. It is well established that factor V Leiden and PT 20210A are associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis^(6-7). The MTHFR 677TT has also been studied, with controversial results^(8-11). The risk associated with these mutations varies with the topography of venous thrombosis^(12-14). In the case of RVO, the role of these mutations is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if these mutations are risk factors for retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS

Patients

A 1:1 matched case-control study was performed, including all patients referred to the hemostasis laboratory between October 1999 and January 2005 with RVO. A total of 55 patients were included.

Controls

A pool of controls was established, consisting of individuals brought in by the patients, not genetically related, as well as other patients from the hospital with no history of thrombosis (formally enquired). Each case was matched to a control according to age (±3 years), gender, and racial background (defined as Caucasian or Afro-Brazilian based on the familial background and phenotypic characteristics as determined by the interviewers).

Therefore, 55 case-control pairs were available for the analysis.

Laboratory tests

After signing an informed consent, patients and controls had a 10 mL blood sample collected in EDTA for DNA analysis. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes by a standard procedure. Detection of factor V Leiden was carried out by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a fragment of exon 10 of the factor V gene, digested by MnlI⁽³⁾. For the identification of PT 20210A, DNA was amplified and digested by HindIII⁽⁴⁾. The MTHFR C677T was detected by HinfI cleavage of a PCR-amplified product⁽⁵⁾.

Risk factors

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the three mutations (factor V Leiden, PT 20210A and MTHFR 677TT) were assessed as potential risk factors for retinal thrombosis. Hypertension was defined by either the use of antihypertensive drugs or by a diastolic blood pressure >90 mmHg or a systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg on two consecutive measurements in different days. Diabetes mellitus was defined on the basis of whether the subject was using insulin or glucose-lowering drugs or on criteria of the American Diabetes Association, namely a fasting plasma glucose >126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or 2-h postload glucose >200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) during an oral glucose tolerance test.

Statistical analysis

The matched-pair odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated from the number of discordant pairs. The tests were performed using Epi-Info (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA) and Win Episcope 2.0.

RESULTS

The series included 32 women (58%) and 23 men (42%), with a median age of 61.5 years (range 17-83 years). Thirty-seven (67%) patients were Caucasians and 18 (33%) were African-Brazilians. Thirty-one patients (56%) and nineteen controls (35%) had hypertension (matched-pair odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 9.21). The frequency of diabetes mellitus was the same (9%) in the two groups.

The distribution of the three genotypes in patients and controls is shown in table 1. A hereditary thrombophilia was found in 7 patients (13%): factor V Leiden (in heterozygous) in 2 patients, PT 20210A (in heterozygous) in 1 patient and MTHFR 677TT (in homozygous) in 5 patients (one patient had both factor V Leiden and MTHFR 677TT). One patient with FV Leiden also had deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs. None of the patients, including this one, was using anticoagulant treatment at the moment of the RVO. A hereditary thrombophilia was also present in 7 controls (13%): PT 20210A in 2 and MTHFR 677TT in 5. Only factor V Leiden was more frequent in patients than in controls (3.6% versus 0%). The risk of RVO was not significantly higher in individuals presenting either one of the three mutations.

Twenty-three patients were younger than 60 years. The prevalence of mutations in this younger group was not higher compared to older subjects (one patient had factor V Leiden and two presented MTHFR 677TT).

There were 3 patients (9%) with mutations among the 33 patients with central retinal vein occlusion, and 4 (18%) among the 22 patients with occlusion in a branch of the retinal vein, but these prevalences were not significantly different from the control group.

DISCUSSION

Retinal vein occlusion is a common disorder in elderly patients. The Blue Mountains Eye Study found a prevalence of retinal venous occlusive disease of 0.7% in individuals younger than 60 years, 1.2% in individuals aged 60 to 69 years, and 4.6% in individuals older than 80 years⁽¹⁵⁾. The identification of risk factors would be an important step towards the prevention of this potentially ominous disorder.

The frequency of thrombophilic mutations in patients presenting RVO in previous studies range from 0% to 17% for the factor V Leiden^(16-20), from 0% to 10% for PT 20210A^{(16,19,21-24)} and from 3% to 19% for MTHFR 677TT^(25-30). These differences may be related to the racial background, selection of the control group, and study design. In the present study, the frequencies of FV1691A, PT20210A and MTHFR were 4%, 2% and 9% respectively.

Studies investigating the presence of activated protein C resistance or factor V Leiden have suggested their potential role in RVO^(16,25,29). Recently, a study⁽³¹⁾ also suggested that the presence of factor V Leiden increases the risk of neovascular complications in patients presenting central RVO. However, despite being the thrombophilic abnormality most frequently associated with RVO, most studies have failed to show a role for this mutation in RVO^{(17-19,22,26,32)}. In the present study, factor V Leiden was the only mutation with a higher frequency in patients than in controls (3.6% versus 0%). In a previous report, a prevalence of 1% for factor V Leiden in a normal cohort of Brazilians was observed⁽¹²⁾. Therefore, the increased prevalence in patients with RVO cannot be ruled out, and this matter requires further study.

A higher prevalence of the prothrombin variant PT20210A in patients with central retinal vein occlusion was also reported⁽²³⁾, but has not been confirmed in most studies^{(26,28-30,33)}. In the present study, this mutation was not more frequent among patients.

Higher levels of plasmatic homocysteine in patients with RVO have also been reported^(34-35) and two case-control studies identified MTHFR 677TT as a potential risk factor for RVO^(32,36). Nevertheless, most studies did not confirm the role of this mutation in RVO^(26,28-30). In the present study, the same frequency of MTHFR 677TT was found in cases and controls.

Even when analyzing separately in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), the mutations did not represent a risk for RVO. Occlusion of the central retinal vein occurs at a variable distance posterior to the lamina cribosa, where the central retinal vein shares a common adventitial sheath with the central retinal artery^(37-39). On the other hand, BRVO is associated with arteriosclerotic changes in the retinal arterioles and the resultant thickening appears to cause compression of adjacent veins, a process that may be aggravated because the two vessels are confined within a common adventitial sheath⁽⁴⁰⁾.

In this study, it is also noteworthy that the mutations did not represent a risk for RVO in patients younger than 60 years.

Some limitations of this study must be mentioned. The clinical status of patients with arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus was not available in all cases. In some cases, the angiographic exam was not performed in the acute phase of the OVR. Finally, the definition of race in the Brazilian population is always controversial. Unlike any other country in the Americas, the Portuguese colonization in Brazil was marked by intense racial mixing of European, African and Indian groups, with gradual loss of traditional phenotypic and genotypic boundaries. In the present study, individual were classified as Caucasians or Afro-Brazilians by a simple and quite subjective examination by the interviewers. However, any interpretation of race in the Brazilian context must be met with substantial reservation.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our results show no indication that the mutations PT 20210A or MTHFR 677TT have a role in predisposing patients to RVO. The prevalence of Factor V Leiden was also low in the present study, but its role in RVO demands further study. Routine screening for these mutations in patients with RVO is not indicated.

Recebido para publicação em 10.12.2006

Última versão recebida em 04.07.2007

Aprovação em 20.08.2007

Editorial Note: We thank Dr. Eduardo Cunha de Souza for participating in this peer-review. The article was revised under editorial confidentiality and he agreed to disclose his name as reviewer after conclusion of the process.

Study carried out at the Service of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology and Service of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Brazil.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Jan 2008
• Date of issue
  Dec 2007

History

• Accepted
  20 Aug 2007
• Reviewed
  04 July 2007
• Received
  10 Dec 2006