Vasomotor reactivity in the ophthalmic artery: different from or similar to intracerebral vessels?
OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate hemodynamic features of ophthalmic arteries in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis, we assessed and compared vasomotor reactivity in the middle cerebral and ophthalmic arteries.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients (25 symptomatic, 40 asymptomatic) with severe (70-99%) internal carotid artery stenosis were studied using transcranial Doppler and the Diamox test.


RESULTS
Vasomotor reactivity was found to be similar in the middle cerebral and ophthalmic arteries on the side of severe carotid stenosis in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. In contrast, the vasomotor reactivity of the ophthalmic arteries was significantly different from that of the middle cerebral arteries on the side of the normal or the non-significantly stenotic side of the internal carotid artery.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a specific autoregulative response of the ophthalmic artery compared to that of the middle cerebral artery and may shed light on the role of the ophthalmic artery in oculovascular hemodynamics.
Bornstein
N M
NM
Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, Tel-Aviv, Israel. strokeun@tasmc.health.gov.il
Gur
A Y
AY
Geyer
O
O
Almog
Y
Y
D000086:Acetazolamide; D000368:Aged; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000502:physiology
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide