Tirofiban as treatment for acute retinal artery occlusion following internal carotid artery flow diverter implantation

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2016 Jun 10;26(4):e74-6. doi: 10.5301/ejo.5000735.

Abstract

Purpose: To report a favorable outcome of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) treated by means of early administration of tirofiban, a glycoprotein IIb-IIIa platelet receptor inhibitor.

Methods: Case report.

Results: A 65-year-old woman developed dramatic visual impairment in her left eye secondary to BRAO after left internal carotid artery endovascular reconstruction with flow diverter stent implant; visual acuity was hand motion. A dose of intravenous tirofiban was injected 10 minutes after symptoms onset. Fourteen hours after drug infusion, retinal fluorescein angiography revealed a well-perfused macula with a partial reperfusion of the inferior temporal branch of the central retinal artery; visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes.

Conclusions: This case supports the effectiveness of tirofiban in secondary BRAO in neurosurgery and may open its usage to further research.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / therapy*
  • Carotid Artery, Internal*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / therapy*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / drug therapy*
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / etiology
  • Stents / adverse effects*
  • Tirofiban
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Tyrosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tyrosine / therapeutic use
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Tyrosine
  • Tirofiban