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Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:1378-1379 doi:10.1136/bjo.2005.072454
  • Letter

Vitreous haemorrhage associated with Gingko biloba use in a patient with age related macular disease

  1. O P MacVie,
  2. B A Harney
  1. Gloucestershire Eye Unit, Cheltenham, UK
  1. Correspondence to: Olivia P MacVie Gloucestershire Eye Unit, Cheltenham General Hospital, Sandford Road, Cheltenham GL53 7AN, UK; olivmac9hotmail.com
  • Accepted 3 April 2005

Gingko biloba extract is a widely used herbal extract that is readily available as an “over the counter” product. It is most commonly used for improving mental alertness and memory. One of its components, gingkolide B is a potent inhibitor of platelet activating factor.1 Long term use has been associated with increased bleeding time and it can potentate the anticoagulant effects of aspirin and warfarin.2

This is a case in which the regular use of Ginkgo biloba was associated with a vitreous haemorrhage in a woman with a subretinal neovascular membrane, who had no other risk factors for haemorrhage.

A 78 year old woman, who was otherwise fit and well, first presented in July 2001 to the ophthalmology department in Cheltenham General Hospital with a history of floaters in both …

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