Retrobulbar haemodynamics in non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare retrobulbar haemodynamics in patients with acute non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and age-matched controls by colour Doppler imaging (CDI).


METHODS
25 patients with acute NAION and 35 age-matched controls participated in this study. By means of CDI, the blood flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery (CRA), and nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs) were measured. Peak-systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and Pourcelot's resistive index were determined.


RESULTS
In the ophthalmic artery, no marked differences between patients with NAION and controls were detected. PSV and EDV of the CRA (p<0.001, p = 0.002) and PSV of the nasal PCA (p<0.05) were significantly decreased in patients with NAION compared with healthy controls. No marked differences between patients and controls were detectable for temporal PCAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood flow velocities of the nasal PCA and the CRA are considerably reduced in patients with acute NAION compared with controls. Patients with NAION in part showed markedly different retrobulbar haemodynamics.
Kaup
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. marion.kaup@post.rwth-aachen.de
Plange
N
N
Arend
K O
KO
Remky
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance