A color Doppler analysis of nifedipine-induced posterior ocular blood flow changes in open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study used color Doppler imaging to investigate the effects of nifedipine on the posterior ocular blood flow of patients with glaucoma progression at normal intraocular pressures.


METHODS
Eighteen patients, 11 men and seven women with a median age of 61.7 years, were imaged before and 6 weeks after the initiation of 30 mg of sustained-release nifedipine (Procardia XL; produced by either Pfizer or Pratt) daily.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant change in the blood velocity of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and main nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries after treatment with nifedipine.


CONCLUSIONS
The routine use of nifedipine in patients with normal tension glaucoma progression is not supported by this study.
Wilson
R P
RP
Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, U.S.A.
Chang
W J
WJ
Sergott
R C
RC
Moster
M R
MR
Schmidt
C M
CM
Bond
J B
JB
Harris
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009543:Nifedipine