Effects of dopamine on retinal and choroidal blood flow parameters in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of dopamine on retinal and choroidal blood flow in humans.


METHODS
We investigated the effect of two doses of intravenous dopamine (5 and 10 microg/kg/min) via a randomised double-masked crossover study in 12 healthy subjects chosen from a total of 16. Blood flow parameters in retina, optic nerve head and choroid were assessed with bi-directional laser Doppler velocimetry, laser Doppler flowmetry and laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation amplitude, respectively.


RESULTS
Intravenous dopamine dose-dependently increased retinal blood cell velocity and fundus pulsation amplitude (p<0.001). At the highest administered dose red blood cell velocity in retinal vessels increased by 37% and fundus pulsation amplitude by 24%. By contrast, optic nerve head blood flow did not change with dopamine administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that dopamine has a pronounced enhancing effect on the retinal perfusion in humans. Further studies are required to establish the exact role of dopamine in the regulation of choroidal and optic nerve head blood flow.
Huemer
Karl-Heinz
KH
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna A-1090, Austria.
Zawinka
Claudia
C
Garhöfer
Gerhard
G
Golestani
Elisabeth
E
Litschauer
Brigitte
B
Dorner
Guido T
GT
Schmetterer
Leopold
L
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004298:Dopamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D004298:Dopamine