COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING TO EVALUATE THE ACTION OF A DRUG IN OCULAR PATHOLOGY

Colour Doppler imaging is a recent advance in ultrasonography. It allo ws simultaneous two-dimensional imaging of structures and evaluation o f blood flow. Retinal vascular pathologies, macular degeneration, endo bulbar tumours, and ischaemic vascular diseases can be analyzed by col our Doppler imaging. Moreover, it offers the possibility of evaluating the vascular effects of a drug and to monitor them in time. We have, therefore, carried out a study using colour Doppler imaging to evaluat e a drug capable of acting on the vascular wall in patients with macul ar degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. The results show that this dr ug, obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of bovine factor VIII (Vueffe(R); Laboratory Baldacci S.p.A., Pisa, Italy), induces a significant incre ase in blood flow and in retinal central artery systolic speed.