Effect of systemic moxaverine on ocular blood flow in humans.
OBJECTIVE
A number of common eye diseases are associated with ocular perfusion abnormalities. The present study aimed to investigate whether systemically administered moxaverine improves ocular blood flow.


METHODS
Sixteen healthy volunteers were studied in this randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study. Moxaverine in a dose of 150 mg was administered i.v. Ocular haemodynamic parameters were measured before and after drug administration. Retinal arterial and venous diameters were measured with a retinal vessel analyser. Retinal blood velocity was assessed using laser Doppler velocimetry and choroidal and optic nerve head blood flow was measured with laser Doppler flowmetry.


RESULTS
Moxaverine increased choroidal blood flow (22.6 ± 27.9%), an effect which was significant versus placebo (p = 0.015). Red blood cell velocity in retinal veins tended to increase by 13.6 ± 13.3% after infusion of moxaverine, but this effect was not significant compared with placebo (p = 0.25). In the optic nerve head moxaverine also tended to increase blood flow (11.8 ± 12.7%), but, again, this effect was not significant versus placebo (p = 0.12). Neither moxaverine nor placebo had an effect on retinal arterial diameters. In retinal veins moxaverine tended to induce vasodilation (2.6 ± 2.8%) and to increase blood flow (19.6 ± 16.5%), but these effects were not significant (both p = 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates an increase in choroidal blood flow after systemic infusion of a single dose of moxaverine in healthy subjects. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether these effects are also seen after longterm treatment in patients with ocular vascular disease.
Resch
Hemma
H
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
Weigert
Günther
G
Karl
Katharina
K
Pemp
Berthold
B
Garhofer
Gerhard
G
Schmetterer
Leopold
L
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply; D010208:Papaverine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010208:Papaverine; C004490:moxaverine