Normalisation of ocular pulse amplitude after embolisation of dural cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistula.
BACKGROUND
The difference in the ocular pulse amplitude between an individual's eyes may reflect abnormalities of the cerebrovascular circulation and has been shown to be helpful in assessing patients with cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistulas.


METHODS
A 71-year-old woman presented with episcleral injection, proptosis, bruit and retro-orbital pain on the left side. Ocular pulse amplitude as measured by dynamic contour tonometry was 4.38 +/- 1.23 mm Hg in the right and 9.57 +/- 2.71 mm Hg in the left eye. Angiography revealed the haemodynamics of a dural left cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistula.


RESULTS
Successful occlusion of the fistula was performed by transvenous embolisation. After embolisation, ocular pulse amplitude was 2.84 +/- 0.60 mm Hg in the right and 1.88 +/- 0.29 mm Hg in the left eye.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case of a dural arteriovenous fistula the ocular pulse amplitude as measured by dynamic contour tonometry parallels closely both clinical findings and neuroimaging.
Kaufmann
C
C
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Thiel
M A
MA
Valavanis
A
A
Landau
K
K
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008365:Manometry; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted