Acetazolamide influences ocular pulse amplitude.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of systemic acetazolamide on ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and on intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
We determined OPA, IOP, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate (HR) in 17 patients suffering from hypertensive primary open-angle glaucoma (htPOAG) and 22 healthy controls. Measurements were taken before and 2 h after oral intake of 500 mg of acetazolamide.


RESULTS
Mean OPA decreased 20.24% (SEM 2.95%) from 2.76 mmHg (SEM 0.16 mmHg) to 2.14 mmHg (SEM 0.13 mmHg) 2 h after oral administration of 500-mg acetazolamide. IOP dropped by 2.98 mmHg (SEM 0.28 mmHg), corresponding to a 17.19% (SEM 1.56%) reduction. The decrease in IOP correlated with the decrease of OPA (r(2) = 0.4, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular pulse amplitude measurements are influenced by oral administration of acetazolamide. There was a decrease in the pulsatile component of choroidal blood flow and in IOP in both htPOAG and healthy controls. This needs to be taken into account for measurement of OPA with dynamic contour tonometry.
Zinkernagel
Martin S
MS
Department of Ophthalmology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Switzerland. m.zinkernagel@gmail.com
Ebneter
Andreas
A
D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011674:Pulse; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide