Doppler-sonography of the short posterior ciliary arteries in primary openangle glaucoma patients

Aim: The area of primary damage in glaucomas is the optic nerve head. This region is directly supplied by the peripapillary choroid and the short post erior ciliary arteries (SPCA). This study was designed to evaluate the chor oidal and SPCA haemodynamics in high tension (HTG) and normal tension (NTG) primary open angle glaucoma patients, as well as in healthy controls (CTL) . Methods: 20 HTC, 12 NTG, and 32 age matched volunteers (CTL) without clinic ally relevant extracranial stenosis of the carotid arteries were evaluated for ocular pulse amplitude (OPA; OBF-System OBF Labs, UK) and for temporal SPCA peak systolic flow (PSV), enddiastolic flow (EDV), pulsatility (PI) an d resistance indices (RI) using a 9 MHz phased array (Elegra Advanced Syste m; Siemens, Germany). Results: (mean +/- SD): In the control group the PSV (cm/s) of the SPCA was 10.90 +/- 1.53; EDV (cm/s) was 3.24 +/- 0.24, Pl was 1.30 +/- 0.39, RI was 0.69 +/- 0.11, OPA (mm Hg) was 2.2 +/- 0.25; IOP (mmHg) was 14.6 +/- 1.5. When compared to CTL matched for age, sex, and refraction, NTC-patients sho wed the following results: OPA was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced, dopple rsonography showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in diastolic flow pat terns and a significant (p<0.05) increase in PI and RI. In HTG-patients the parameters investigated where not significantly (p > 0.05) altered. Conclusion: These data suggest reduced haemodynamics in the choroid and in the SPCA of NTG patients, which may contribute to progression of the optic neuropathy. In HTG the Doppler parameters and the OPA are not altered compa red with the control group.