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Abstract #15671 Published in IGR 2-3
Ocular blood flow: reproducibility of Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter data and no effect of metipranolol in healthy volunteers
Funk J; Müller-Velten R; Ness TKlinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde 2000; 217: 263-268
PURPOSE: The authors wished to know whether topical metipranolol has any effect on ocular blood flow. Before starting this investigation using the Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF), they studied the reproducibility of this device. METHODS: Retinal blood flow was determined in 15 healthy volunteers. Altogether, each volunteer was measured 20 times (four different days with five images each). Coefficients of variation were calculated for both the short- and long-term fluctuation. Thereafter, the effect of metipranolol was tested in 14 of the 15 volunteers. This was done in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked, crossover-designed study. RESULTS: The mean coefficients of variation were 21% for short-term fluctuation and 13% for long-term. There was a significant effect of learning, i.e., coefficients of variation decreased with the increasing experience of the investigator (MVR). Blood flow values did not differ significantly between metipranolol and placebo. CONCLUSIONS: The reproducibility of blood flow values measured with the HRF are sufficient, at least is the device is used in clinical studies. When performing such studies, the learning curve of the investigator should be taken into account. The topical application of metipranolol did not alter retinal blood flow in healthy volunteers.LA: German
Dr. J. Funk, Universitäts-Augenklinik Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
11.3.4 Betablocker (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
