Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in central serous chorioretinopathy.

PURPOSE: To describe the plasma level of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, the major antifibrinolytic agent, in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy, in which choroidal thrombosis is suspected as the underlying condition based on the findings of choroidal hyperpermeability in indocyanine green angiograms.

METHODS: Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentrations in the plasma of 17 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with those in 12 age-matched normal volunteers.

RESULTS: The plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (range, 25 to 439 ng/ml; median, 87 ng/ml) were significantly increased compared with those in normal volunteers (range, 7 to 84 ng/ml; median, 36 ng/ml) (P = .0013, Mann-Whitney U test).

CONCLUSION: Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 concentrations in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy support the hypothesis that the choroidal hyperpermeability disclosed by indocyanine green angiography is caused from impaired fibrinolysis and the resulting thrombotic occlusion in the choroidal veins.