RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is mainly related with vascular risk factors (VRF). OBJECTIVES: To analyze the lipid profile and serum folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels, in patients with RVO and a population-based control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case-control study. Patients with RVO were assessed during an 11-year period. RESULTS: We included 368 patients and 325 controls of similar age and sex. HDL cholesterol and folate levels were lower (52 [43-63] mg/dL vs. 55 [46-66]; p = 0.016 and 7 [5-10] ng/mL vs. 9 [7-13]; p < 0.0001, respectively) and non-HDL cholesterol and homocysteine levels higher (148.9 ± 37.3 mg/dL vs. 142.9 ± 34.5; p = 0.03 and 13.4 [11.2-18.2] µmol/L vs. 11.1 [9.0-14.4]; p < 0.001) in patients with RVO than controls. Although total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels were higher and serum vitamin B12 levels were lower in RVO patients, these differences did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: RVO-patients have lower serum HDL-C and folate levels and higher non-HDL-C and serum homocysteine levels than population-based controls of similar age and sex. In patients with RVO, apart from the lipid profile, determination of serum homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels might be useful, as well as the treatment of their alterations.