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Intolerance to hypoxia might be a significant risk factor for RVO, study shows
PARIS — A large study carried out in Paris and Lyon, France, suggests that patients with retinal vein occlusion may have intolerance to hypoxia.
"In a number of our patients, we found that this vascular disorder had occurred subsequently to the exposure to transient hypoxia, such as mountain walking or long-distance air travel," Martine Mauget-Faÿsse, MD, said at the meeting of the French Society of Ophthalmology.
"We are testing a large number of patients, and we are finding a significant correlation between RVO and abnormal response to hypoxia during rest or exercise," she said.
RVO is a condition of unknown but probably multifactorial origin. The study suggested that hypoxia intolerance might be a plausible additional risk factor.
About 6% to 10% of the general population have hypoxia intolerance, which is usually manifested during mountain walking, air travel or as sleep apnea syndrome. The frequency of hypoxic situations in modern life, combined with this congenital intolerance, could significantly increase the predisposition to occlusive vascular disorders. Preventive measures such as acetazolamide could be suggested to these patients.