title: Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc: time course in primary open-angle glaucoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and quantify the time course of fluorescein leakage of the optic nerve head in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with POAG (aged 58 +/- 10 years) and 14 controls (aged 51 +/- 12 years, p = 0.07) were included in a prospective study. Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc was quantified using digital image analysis. A new leakage ratio (fluorescence of the optic disc divided by fluorescence of the surrounding retina) was defined and fluorescein leakage was quantified at 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 min after injection of 2.5 cc sodium fluorescein (10%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fluorescein leakage exhibited a significantly different time course with higher leakage ratio values in POAG compared to controls (7-8 min: 1.24 +/- 0.32 vs 1.16 +/- 0.12; 9-10 min: 1.37 +/- 0.37 vs 1.19 +/- 0.1; 11-12 min: 1.38 +/- 0.36 vs 1.24 +/- 0.13; 13-14 min: 1.44 +/- 0.36 vs 1.27 +/- 0.13; p = 0.004). The change in optic disc fluorescence from 7-8 min to 9-10 min was significantly higher in POAG compared to controls (0.13 +/- 0.09 vs 0.03 +/- 0.07; p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time course of fluorescein leakage is significantly different in POAG compared to controls. This might reflect damage of the optic disc vasculature related to increased vascular permeability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. nplange@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Plange
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaup
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doehmen
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Remky
authors.forename: Kay Oliver
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Arend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D019793:Fluorescein