Effects of brinzolamide on ocular haemodynamics in healthy volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective, randomised study to evaluate effects of brinzolamide on ocular haemodynamics in healthy volunteers.


METHODS
30 volunteers (12 men, 18 women; 28.3 (SD 7.8) years) were prospectively randomised to either brinzolamide or placebo during a 2 week double masked treatment trial. Examinations were performed at baseline and after 2 weeks of treatment. Intraocular pressure was measured and automatic static perimetry (Humphrey field analyser, 24-2) and contrast sensitivity (CSV 1000, Vector Vision) were performed. Retrobulbar blood flow velocities (peak systolic and end diastolic velocity) and resistive indices (RI) of ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and of temporal and nasal short posterior ciliary arteries were measured by colour Doppler imaging (Sonoline Sienna Siemens). In video fluorescein angiograms (scanning laser ophthalmoscope, Rodenstock) arteriovenous passage time (AVP, dilution curves) and peripapillary diameters of retinal arterioles and venules were measured by means of digital image analysis.


RESULTS
Intraocular pressure was significantly decreased by brinzolamide (p<0.0001). Neither brinzolamide nor placebo changed visual field global indices after treatment. Contrast sensitivity at 3 cycles per degree was significantly higher in the placebo group (p<0.05). Apart from an increase of RI in ophthalmic artery under placebo treatment (p<0.05) there was no effect in retrobulbar haemodynamics in both groups. Brinzolamide therapy alone resulted in a significant reduction of AVP compared to baseline (p<0.05), while peripapillary retinal vessels diameters remained unaffected.


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from the expected decrease of intraocular pressure brinzolamide showed no significant change in retrobulbar haemodynamics, but a significant shortening of AVP. Since in glaucoma AVP is prolonged indicating vascular dysfunction this effect might be beneficial in glaucoma therapy.
Kaup
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Plange
N
N
Niegel
M
M
Remky
A
A
Arend
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013843:Thiazines; C111827:brinzolamide