title: Ocular pulse amplitude in diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of diabetes mellitus on ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), an indirect measure of choroidal perfusion, is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  OPA, using the Langham ocular blood flow (OBF) system, applanation intraocular pressure (IOP), systemic blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and haemoglobin (Hb) A(1c) were measured in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with no (DR-0, n = 22) non-proliferative (DR-1, n = 24), and proliferative (DR-2, n = 18) diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither local (OPA, IOP) nor systemic perfusion parameters (BPs, HR) nor HbA(1c) were significantly altered in DR-0, DR-1, or DR-2 IDDM patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Choroidal circulation remains unaffected as diabetic retinopathy advances.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Walton Street, University of Oxford, UK. karl-georg.schmidt@eye.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Rückmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kemkes-Matthes
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Hammes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male