[The effect of nimodipine on retinal blood flow in pregnancy induced hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of nimodipine on retinal blood flow in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).


METHODS
Fourteen patients were studied with color flow Doppler before and after 30 mg nimodipine administered orally, while other fourteen patients received intravenous magnesium sulfate as control group. Central retinal artery flow velocity waveforms were measured and pulse index (PI) were calculated.


RESULTS
Nimodipine reduced the central retinal artery PI significantly from 0.92 +/- 0.14 to 0.75 +/- 0.22. It also reduced systolic blood pressure from 20.7 +/- 2.5 kPa to 19.8 +/- 1.5 kPa and diastolic blood pressure from 14.4 +/- 2.3 kPa to 13.6 +/- 1.9 kPa.


CONCLUSIONS
Nimodipine may dilate central retinal arteries. Changes in pulsatility index in retinal arteries maybe indicative of similar changes in other cerebral vessels. Nimodipine may be another choice of PIH therapy.
Li
M
M
Chinese People's Armed Police Forces General Hospital, Beijing.
Yang
M
M
Qiu
X
X
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009553:Nimodipine