Ocular pathology in congenital heart disease

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 29 - 34
• Main Authors: MANSOUR, A. M, BITAR, F. F, TRABOULSI, E. I, KASSAK, K. M, OBEID, M. Y, MEGARBANE, A, SALTI, H. I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.01.2005
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child, Preschool; Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava; Eye Diseases - complications; Female; Fluorescein Angiography - methods; Heart; Heart Defects, Congenital - complications; Heart Diseases - complications; Heart Diseases - congenital; Hematocrit; Humans; Infant; Lebanon; Lens diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology; Prospective Studies; Retinal Diseases - complications; Retinal Vessels - pathology; Syndrome; Lebanon; optic nerve hypoplasia; Ocular; Tortuosity; Cardiovascular disease; Retina; congenital cataract; tetralogy of Fallot; Eyelid disease; Fallot tetralogy; congenital heart disease; retinal vascular tortuosity; Ophthalmology; Hypoplasia; Cataract; Optic nerve; Congenital; Ptosis; Congenital disease; Eye disease; Anatomic pathology; Lens disease; Malformation; congenital ptosis; Congenital cardiopathy; Retinal; Anterior segment disease
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.eye.6701408

To describe the ocular findings in subjects with congenital heart disease (CHD). In a prospective study, the same observer examined 240 consecutive patients with CHD admitted to the medical centre. Two independent geneticists performed identification of syndromes. The commonest anatomic cardiac anomalies were ventricular or atrial septal defects (62), tetralogy of Fallot (39), pulmonary stenosis (25), and transposition of the great arteries (24). The heart lesions were divided physiologically into volume overload (90), cyanotic (87), and obstructive (63). In all, 105 syndromic subjects included the velocardiofacial syndrome (18), Down's syndrome (17), CHARGE association (6), DiGeorge syndrome (5), Williams syndrome (3), Edwards syndrome (3), Noonan syndrome (3), VACTERL association (2), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13) (2). The paediatric team recognized 51 patients as syndromic. Two independent geneticists recognized additional 54 patients as syndromic. Positive eye findings were present in 55% (132) and included retinal vascular tortuosity (46), optic disc hypoplasia (30), trichomegaly (15), congenital ptosis (12), strabismus (11), retinal haemorrhages (8), prominent eyes (7), and congenital cataract (6). There was a strong correlation between the retinal vascular tortuosity and both a low haematocrit (P=0.000) and a low arterial oxygen saturation (P=0.002). Patients with CHD are at a high risk for ocular pathology and need screening for various ocular abnormalities.