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Abstract #27023 Published in IGR 12-4
Is nail fold capillaroscopy useful in normotensive and primary open angle glaucoma? A pilot study.
Božić M; Senćanić PH; Spahić G; Kontić D; Marković V; Marjanović I; Stojkovic M; Dorđević-Jocić JCurrent Eye Research 2010; 35: 1099-1104
Purpose: Vascular dysregulation is deemed a significant risk factor in glaucoma occurrence and progression. Capillaroscopy of the blood vessels on the finger nail-fold is a method that can provide information regarding the state of the vascular system at the capillary level. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether there are significant differences in the morphological characteristics of the peripheral blood vessels in normotensive glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma. Matherials and Methods: An ophthalmological and capillaroscopic examination was conducted on 30 normotensive glaucoma patients and 30 primary open angle glaucoma patients. The capillaroscopic characteristics described were as follows: capillary row density, capillary diameter, number of spirally formed capillaries, permeability of the loop, and loop resistance. Results: Statistically, significantly more intensively spiraled capillaries were found in normotensive glaucoma patients (χ(2) test, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Results confirm the thesis that vascular factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the glaucoma, especially in cases where the level of intraocular pressure cannot be deemed responsible for the present damage of the optical nerve. Despite the newer, technologically more developed methods for diagnostics and monitoring glaucoma, it is often not easy to establish the right diagnosis and determine further the course of the illness, since the role the intraocular pressure (IOP) plays compared to the role of vascular factors is unknown; hence, capillaroscopy as a complementary diagnostic procedure can be of help.
Institute for Eye Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
9.2.3 Open angle glaucoma with elevated IOP (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)
9.2.4 Normal pressure glaucoma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)