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Abstract #51305 Published in IGR 14-3
Coexistence of macro- and micro-vascular abnormalities in newly diagnosed normal tension glaucoma patients
Mroczkowska S; Ekart A; Sung V; Negi A; Qin L; Patel SR; Jacob S; Atkins C; Benavente-Perez A; Gherghel DActa Ophthalmologica 2012; 90: e553-e559
PURPOSE: To investigate the coexistence of ocular microvascular and systemic macrovascular abnormalities in early stage, newly diagnosed and previously untreated normal tension glaucoma patients (NTG). METHODS: Retinal vascular reactivity to flickering light was assessed in 19 NTG and 28 age-matched controls by means of dynamic retinal vessel analysis (IMEDOS GmbH, Jena, Germany). Using a newly developed computational model, the entire dynamic vascular response profile to flicker light was imaged and used for analysis. In addition, assessments of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave analysis (PWA) were conducted on all participants, along with blood pressure (BP) measurements and blood analyses for lipid metabolism markers. RESULTS: Patients with NTG demonstrated an increased right and left carotid IMT (p = 0.015, p = 0.045) and an elevated PWA augmentation index (p = 0.017) in comparison with healthy controls, along with an enhanced retinal arterial constriction response (p = 0.028), a steeper retinal arterial constriction slope (p = 0.031) and a reduced retinal venous dilation response (p = 0.026) following flicker light stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Early stage, newly diagnosed, NTG patients showed signs of subclinical vascular abnormalities at both macro- and micro-vascular levels, highlighting the need to consider multi-level circulation-related pathologies in the development and progression of this type of glaucoma.
Vascular Research Laboratory, Ophthalmic Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK Computer Science, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK Medical Innovation Development and Research Unit, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Full articleClassification:
9.2.4 Normal pressure glaucoma (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.2 Primary open angle glaucomas)
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)