Ocular pulse amplitude in diabetes mellitus.
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.
Schmidt
K G
KG
Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Walton Street, University of Oxford, UK. karl-georg.schmidt@eye.ox.ac.uk
von Rückmann
A
A
Kemkes-Matthes
B
B
Hammes
H P
HP
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