title: Color doppler imaging of ocular blood flow after topical ketanserin.
abstract: The authors investigated the effect of ketanserin 0.5% eye drops on intraocular pressure and orbital blood flow in some healthy volunteers. Ketanserin is a selective antagonist of serotonin S(2) receptors; moreover, it produces an alpha(1)-blocking effect. It causes a systemic reduction of blood pressure and capillary vasodilatation. Three hours after topical administration of ketanserin 0.5%, the intraocular pressure was decreased by about 14% from the baseline. At the same time, we observed by color Doppler imaging that the mean percent increase in the peak systolic velocity in the ophthalmic artery (OA) was 5.18% (p < 0.161) and 23.18% (p < 0.001) in the posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs). The mean resistance index of the OA was in contrast reduced by 1.16% (p < 0.669) and by 32.14% (p < 0.003) in the PCAs. These data show that ketanserin 0.5% eye drops may be useful not only to decrease intraocular pressure but also to improve blood flow in the PCAs that supply the optic nerve head.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cellini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caramazza
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin