advertisement

WGA Rescources

Abstract #48743 Published in IGR 14-1

Head-down Posture Induces PERG Alterations in Early Glaucoma

Ventura LM; Golubev I; Lee W; Nose I; Parel JM; Feuer WJ; Porciatti V
Journal of Glaucoma 2013; 22: 255-264


PURPOSE: To probe susceptibility of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) to physiological stressors associated with moderate head-down body tilt in patients with suspicion of glaucoma or early manifest glaucoma (EMG). METHODS: One hundred nine subjects with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥20/20 and no disease other than glaucoma [glaucoma suspects (GS)=79, EMG=14, normal controls (NC)=16 and comparable age range were tested. Noncontact intraocular pressure (IOP), pattern electroretinogram (PERG), and brachial blood pressure/heart rate measurements were performed in 3 consecutive conditions (∼0038 min apart): seated (baseline), -10-degree whole body head-down tilt (HDT), and seated again (recovery). PERG amplitude and latency, IOP, and systolic/diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, calculated mean central retinal artery pressure, ocular perfusion pressure, and systolic/diastolic perfusion pressures were evaluated. RESULTS: During HDT, IOP significantly (P<0.001) increased in all groups approximately to the same extent (approximately 20%). PERG amplitude did not change in NC but decreased significantly (P<0.001) in patients (GS, -25%, EMG -23%). PERG phase become delayed in NC (-1.6%, P=0.04) but more so in patients (GS, -2.7%, P<0.001; EMG, -6.0%, P<0.001). The proportion of patients with PERG alterations significantly (P<0.05) exceeding those occurring in age-adjusted and baseline-adjusted NC were, GS: amplitude 20%, phase 15%; EMG: amplitude 14%, phase 50%. All measures recovered baseline values after HDT. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate HDT induces temporary worsening of RGC function in a subpopulation of GS and EMG patients. This noninvasive protocol may help disclose abnormal susceptibility of RGCs in a subset of the patients at risk of glaucoma.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.

Full article

Classification:

6.7 Electro-ophthalmodiagnosis (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
6.13 Provocative tests (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)



Issue 14-1

Change Issue


advertisement

Oculus