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Amaurosis fugaz - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Ceguera monocular transitoria

Definición:

Es la pérdida de la visión en un ojo debido a la ausencia temporal de circulación a la retina. Puede ser un signo de un accidente cerebrovascular inminente.

Ver también: factores de riesgo y prevención de accidente cerebrovascular

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La amaurosis fugaz es un síntoma de arteriopatía carotídea. Ocurre cuando se desprende un pedazo de placa en la arteria carótida y viaja hasta la arteria retiniana en el ojo. Las arterias carótidas proporcionan el riego sanguíneo principal al cerebro y están localizadas a cada lado del cuello bajo la mandíbula.

La placa es una sustancia dura que se forma cuando se acumulan grasa, colesterol y otras sustancias en las paredes de las arterias. Los pedazos de placa pueden bloquear el flujo de la sangre. En personas con amaurosis fugaz, la pérdida de la visión continúa en tanto se bloquea el riego sanguíneo a la arteria retiniana.

La ateroesclerosis de las arterias en el cuello es el principal factor de riesgo para esta afección. Los factores de riesgo para la ateroesclerosis abarcan cardiopatía, colesterol alto, tabaquismo, diabetes e hipertensión arterial.

Retina

Reviewed last on: 10/4/2010
Daniel Kantor, MD, Medical Director of Neurologique, Ponte Vedra, FL and President of the Florida Society of Neurology (FSN). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Zivin JA. Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 432.

Goldstein LB. Prevention and management of stroke. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 58.

Adams RJ, Albers G, Alberts MJ, Benavente O, Furie K, Goldstein LB, et al. Update to the AHA/ASA recommendations for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2008 May;39(5):1647-52. Epub 2008 Mar 5.

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