Color Doppler Imaging of the Orbital Vessels in Ankylosing Spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the hemodynamic features of orbital blood flow velocities using Doppler ultrasonography in ankylosing spondiylitis (AS) patients, as well as to compare these results with those of healthy controls.


METHODS
33 AS patients and 32 healthy controls were consecutively included in the study groups. The same radiologist performed ocular blood flow measurements. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI) were measured in the central retinal artery (CRA), posterior ciliary arteries (PCAs), and ophthalmic artery (OA). Resistive index was used to assess arterial resistance; it was automatically calculated as RI [(PSV-EDV)/PSV].


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the PSV, EDV, and RI of the OA, CRA, and PCAs between AS patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This result suggests no possible contributory role of vascular structures in formation of uveitis in AS. We believe that our preliminary results need to be complemented with further studies, particularly including AS patients with uveitis and rheumatic diseases with other ocular involvement.
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey .
Mustafa
M
Ozsahin
b Department of Radiology , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey , and.
Ramazan
R
Buyukkaya
b Department of Radiology , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey , and.
Fahri Halit
FH
Besir
c Department of Ophthalmology , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey.
Halil Ibrahim
HI
Onder
b Department of Radiology , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey , and.
Besir
B
Erdogmus
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey .
Safinaz
S
Ataoglu
b Department of Radiology , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey , and.
Derya
D
Güclü
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Medical School of Duzce University , Duzce , Turkey .
Rumeysa
R
Kolukisa
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014605:Uveitis / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
Ankylosing spondylitis; blood flow velocity; doppler ultrasonography; inflammation; uveitis