Background: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a common retinal vascular disease and it is one of the most frequently reported causes of visual damage and blindness in the elderly. The current study investigated the potential association between antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) and RVO risk by conducting a meta-analysis of case-control studies.
Methods: A systematic literature search of Pubmed and Embase databases was conducted in August 1st, 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to evaluate the associations between APLA and the incidence of RVO. A random-effects model was obtained for the quantitative synthesis.
Results: A total of 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. A meta-analysis of all studies assessing the risk of RVO revealed that APLA was associated with a statistically increased risk of RVO incidence (OR = 5.18, 95% CI = [3.37, 7.95]). The association between anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and the risk of RVO was significant (n =8, OR = 4.59, 95% CI = [2.75, 7.66]). However, the association between lupus anticoagulants (LA) and risk of RVO was non-significant (n = 5, OR = 3.90, 95% CI = [0.99, 15.37]). No significant publication bias was found in the 11 selected studies.
Conclusion: APLA was significantly associated with the risk of RVO. Advanced analyses showed that ACA rather than LA affected the risk of RVO. Additional well-designed and well-conducted epidemiological studies are required to further our understanding of the relationship between APLA and RVO risk.