title: Effect of a nitric oxide donor on the ophthalmic artery flow velocity waveform in preeclamptic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of an antihypertensive agent on the orbital circulation of preeclamptic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the ophthalmic arteries of 10 healthy pregnant women and 10 women with severe preeclampsia by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography and evaluated the effect of transdermal isosorbide dinitrate, a nitric oxide donor, on preeclamptic women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average pulsatility index and resistive index were significantly lower, whereas the average end-diastolic velocity, time-averaged mean peak velocity, and peak ratio, which quantifies characteristic changes in the ophthalmic artery flow velocity waveform, were higher in preeclamptic women. Transdermal isosorbide dinitrate significantly reduced the average end-diastolic velocity (P < .05) and peak ratio of the ophthalmic artery (P < .01), whereas it did not significantly affect other indices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orbital circulation was altered in preeclamptic women. A nitric oxide donor affected orbital circulation. Peak ratio was a sensitive index for evaluating orbital circulation in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama City, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakatsuka
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takata
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D009915:Orbit / Q000098:blood supply; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate