Macular microcirculation in hypertensive patients with and without branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether a reduction in blood flow velocity (BFV) in the perifoveal capillaries is involved in the pathogenesis of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in patients with hypertension.


METHODS
Subjects included hypertensive patients with (n = 12) and without (n = 16) BRVO and healthy volunteers (n = 16). Perifoveal BFV was measured by the tracing method using fluorescein angiography and a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors that influenced the presence or absence of BRVO.


RESULTS
Mean BFV showed a significant decrease across the three groups (healthy controls: 1.49 +/- 0.11 mm/second; hypertensive patients without BRVO: 1.36 +/- 0.12 mm/second; hypertensive patients with BRVO: 1.16 +/- 0.24 mm/second; p(trend) < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BFV was a significant risk factor for the presence of BRVO.


CONCLUSIONS
Perifoveal capillary BFV is reduced in hypertensive patients with and without BRVO. It is possible that a decrease in BFV may be involved in the occurrence of BRVO. Measurement of perifoveal capillary BFV may be useful for investigating the pathogenesis and progression of BRVO.
Noma
Hidetaka
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. nomahide@tymc.twmu.ac.jp
Funatsu
Hideharu
H
Sakata
Kumi
K
Harino
Seiyo
S
Mimura
Tatsuya
T
Hori
Sadao
S
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002196:Capillaries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000209:etiology*