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Abstract #54284 Published in IGR 15-3

Enhanced pressure in the central retinal vein decreases the perfusion pressure in the prelaminar region of the optic nerve head

Stodtmeister R; Ventzke S; Spoerl E; Boehm AG; Terai N; Haustein M; Pillunat LE
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2013; 54: 4698-4704

See also comment(s) by Alon Harris


PURPOSE: The pressure in the central retinal vein (CRVP) has been shown to be higher in glaucoma patients than in controls. Until now, these measurements have been performed in arbitrary units or in units of ophthalmodynamometric force. In our study, a contact lens dynamometer, calibrated in mm Hg, was used to calculate the retinal perfusion pressure. METHODS: A total of 27 patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and 27 healthy control subjects were included in the study. The IOP measurement included Goldmann applanation tonometry, whereas the pressure enhancement measurement consisted of contact lens dynamometry. results: the pressures are given in mm hg, and are expressed as the mean ± SD for the control subjects versus the POAG patients: IOP 14.4 ± 2.7 vs. 15.4 ± 2.9, systolic blood pressure 141 ± 20.1 vs. 153 ± 16.5 (P = 0.013), central retinal vein threshold pressure (CRVTP) 11.9 ± 3.8 vs. 16.8 ± 5.0, CRVP 15.0 ± 2.7 vs. 17.9 ± 4.2, and retinal perfusion pressure (PPret) standard 84 ± 12.2 vs. 94 ± 9.1 and new 83 ± 12.2 vs. 91 ± 9.6. The differences in PPret between using the new versus the standard method are 0.55 ± 1.33 vs. -2.5 ± 3.89 (P = 0.041 and P = 0.002, respectively). The PPret was at least 5.0 mm Hg lower in 5 of the 27 POAG patients when the new calculation method was used. CONCLUSIONS: The perfusion pressure in the retina and prelaminar region of the optic nerve head (ONH) may be lower than expected because the CRVP may be higher. The pressure measurement in the central retinal vein may be a step toward a better understanding of ONH pathophysiology.

University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany. stodtmeister@t-online.de

Full article

Classification:

6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
2.15 Optic nerve (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)



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