title: Dronabinol and retinal hemodynamics in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of oral cannabinoids on retinal hemodynamics assessed by video fluorescein angiography in healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a self-experiment, the cannabinoid dronabinol (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) was administered orally to eight healthy medical doctors (7.5 mg Marinol; Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Chicago, Illinois, USA). At baseline and two hours after dronabinol intake, intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured and retinal hemodynamics were assessed by fluorescein angiography. The retinal arteriovenous passage time was determined on the basis of dye dilution curves by means of digital image analysis in a masked fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dronabinol resulted in a significant IOP reduction from 13.2 +/- 1.9 mm Hg to 11.8 +/- 2.0 mm Hg (P = .038). The retinal arteriovenous passage time decreased from 1.77 +/- 0.35 seconds to 1.57 +/- 0.31 seconds (P = .028). Systemic blood pressure and heart rate were not statistically significantly altered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabinoids, already known for their ability to reduce IOP, may result in increased retinal hemodynamics. This may be beneficial in ocular circulatory disorders, including glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. nplange@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plange
authors.forename: Kay O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Arend
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaup
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doehmen
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordes
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huth
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Sponsel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remky
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013759:Dronabinol