Blood flow velocities are reduced in the optic nerve of children with elevated intracranial pressure.
The authors previously used spectral Doppler imaging to determine optic nerve blood flow velocities in normal children. In the current study, we measured central retinal artery and central retinal vein blood flow velocities by spectral Doppler imaging in 38 healthy children and 18 children with elevated intracranial pressure between ages 4 and 17. We found central retinal artery systolic blood flow velocity was significantly reduced in children with elevated increased intracranial pressure; ANOVA P = .01 (normal children 8.9 cm/s [SD 1.1] versus children with elevated intracranial pressure 7.5 cm/s [SD 1.3]). Central retinal vein maximal blood flow velocity was also significantly reduced in children with elevated intracranial pressure; ANOVA P < .02 (normal children 4.2 cm/s [SD 0.9] versus children with elevated intracranial pressure 3.6 cm/s [SD 0.7]). Spectral Doppler imaging is a noninvasive test well tolerated in children that identifies blood flow velocity changes in elevated intracranial pressure.
Miller
Marijean M
MM
Department of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. mmiller@cnmc.org
Chang
Taeun
T
Keating
Robert
R
Crouch
Eric
E
Sable
Craig
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods