AIM:To observe the clinical characteristics of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)complicated with major retinal vascular occlusion.

METHODS:Seventeen patients(21 eyes)with SLE complicated with major retinal vascular occlusion were selected as the experimental group from January 2010 to January 2014 in our hospital. Thirty cases(60 eyes)of SLE patients without retinopathy were selected as the control group. Ocular and systemic examination and related laboratory tests, including various autoimmune antibodies, were taken. Clinical symptoms and signs were recorded.

RESULTS:In the experimental group, 13 cases were uniocular, 4 cases were bilocular, in which there were central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)in 7 eyes(33%), branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO)in 9 eyes(43%), central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO)in 3 eyes(14%),branch retinal artery occlusion(BRAO)in 1 eye(5%),CRAO combined with CRVO in 1 eye(5%). The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of the experimental group was significantly worse than that of the control group. The incidence of skin erythema(76%), fever(59%), arthritis(53%), central nervous system symptoms(headache and neuropsychiatric abnormalities)(76%), pleurisy(41%)were significantly higher than those of the control group. The positive rate of anti ds-DNA antibody(100%)and antiphospholipid antibody(65%), the decrease of C3(82%), the elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(100%), thrombocytopenia(65%)were significantly higher than those of the control group. The score of SLEDAI(systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index)was 20.24±4.66 prompting SLE in moderate or severe active stage.

CONCLUSION:In SLE patients with major retinal vascular occlusion, the visual acuity was severely damaged, the multi-system was affected in varying degrees, and all of the patients were in moderate and severe activity period. There may be a correlation between retinal vascular occlusion, APA, and central nervous system disease in SLE.