Central retinal vein occlusion in a young patient following cannabis smoke inhalation.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To report a case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) following cannabis smoke inhalation in a young patient.

METHODS:

An otherwise healthy 18-year-old man without risk factors for retinal vein occlusion presented with reduced visual acuity (20/200) secondary to CRVO following cannabis smoke inhalation. Central retinal vein occlusion was diagnosed on the basis of slit-lamp fundus biomicroscopy and fluorescein angiography.

RESULTS:

Tests for systemic causes were negative. Following one intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) and one ranibizumab injection (Lucentis), functional (20/20 visual acuity) and anatomic improvement was recorded. Fluorescein angiography showed a decrease in the vascular caliber and tortuosity, with no signs of retinal ischemia or edema.

CONCLUSIONS:

We report CRVO in a young adult following cannabis smoke inhalation. Its occurrence immediately after cannabis smoking further supports a link between the use of cannabis and vascular alterations.

• Authors: Federico Corvi, Giuseppe Querques, Rosangela Lattanzio, Chiara Preziosa, Maurizio Battaglia Parodi, Francesco Bandello
• Journal: European journal of ophthalmology (Eur J Ophthalmol) 2014 May-Jun Vol. 24 Issue 3 Pg. 437-40 ISSN: 1724-6016 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24338586 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Drug Implants
• Glucocorticoids
• VEGFA protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Dexamethasone
• Ranibizumab

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (therapeutic use)
• Cannabis
• Dexamethasone (administration & dosage)
• Drug Implants
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Intravitreal Injections
• Male
• Marijuana Smoking (adverse effects)
• Ranibizumab
• Retinal Vein Occlusion (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Visual Acuity
• Young Adult