Color Doppler imaging of the superior ophthalmic vein in different clinical forms of Graves' orbitopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare color Doppler imaging (CDI) parameters of the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) in patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO) and in normal controls.


METHODS
Forty-three GO patients and 14 normal controls underwent CDI of the SOV. Patients had either fibrotic (lipogenic or myogenic) or congestive orbitopathy. The findings for each group were compared.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight orbits with fibrotic orbitopathy, 28 with congestive orbitopathy, and 28 from controls, were studied. In the congestive group, SOV flow was detected in 13, undetectable in 11, and reversed in four orbits; in the fibrotic group, it was present in 41 and undetectable in 17 orbits. In normal controls, SOV flow was detected in 25 and undetectable in three orbits. The differences among the three groups were significant. There was also a significant difference between controls and the congestive GO orbits but not between the fibrotic group and the other two groups. Fibrotic myogenic orbitopathy patients displayed a significantly smaller SOV flow than patients with lipogenic orbitopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
SOV was significantly reduced in orbits with congestive GO or with myogenic fibrotic GO, but not in orbits with fibrotic lipogenic orbitopathy. SOV congestion may be a contributing pathogenic factor in both congestive and fibrotic myogenic Graves' orbitopathy.
Monteiro
Mário L R
MLR
Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Angotti-Neto
Hélio
H
Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Benabou
Joseph E
JE
Department of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Betinjane
Alberto J
AJ
Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology