title: Classification of ophthalmic artery flow in patients with occlusive carotid artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and classify the ophthalmic artery (OA) flow patterns in patients with occlusive carotid artery disease (OCAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three patients (52 eyes) with documented OCAD of > or =70% underwent orbital color Doppler imaging. The eyes were first divided into four groups by peak systolic velocity in OA (PSV(OA)): group A, PSV(OA) < or = 0; group B, 0 < PSV(OA) < or = 10; group C, 10 < PSV(OA) < or = 40; and group D, PSV(OA) > 40 cm/s, then further classified by the shape of the OA flow wave. The groups were then compared with respect to the collateral pathway (Co-Path), severity of the OCAD, and systemic diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eyes with unidirectional reverse flow (group A(1)) had a Co-Path from the ipsilateral external carotid artery and 70%-100% OCAD. Eyes with bidirectional reverse flow (group A(2)) had no Co-Path, 75% OCAD, and impending ischemic heart disease (IHD). Group B eyes had dome-shaped OA flow waves with no Co-Path and 99%-88% OCAD. Group C(1) eyes, with normal flow waves, had a Co-Path from the contralateral internal carotid artery and 100% OCAD. Group C(2) eyes, with triangular-shaped flow waves, had no Co-Path, 93%-70% OCAD, and IHD. Group D eyes had normal high flow waves with no Co-Path, 75% OCAD, and hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OA flow patterns were variously affected by collateral pathway, severity of OCAD, and systemic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan. fujiokas@kcn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Kaoruko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karashima
authors.forename: Hidemitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Norikiyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D002342:Carotid Artery, External; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color