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Abstract #6421 Published in IGR 3-2
Systemic circulatory parameters: comparison between patients with normal tension glaucoma and normal subjects using ambulatory monitoring
Kashiwagi K; Hosaka O; Kashiwagi F; Taguchi K; Mochizuki J; Ishii H; Ijiri H; Tamura K; Tsukahara SJapanese Journal of Ophthalmology 2001; 45: 388-396
PURPOSE: To compare circadian changes in the systemic circulation in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and normal subjects. METHODS: Forty-three patients with NTG and 226 normal subjects were enrolled in this study. Circulatory parameters, including blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR), were measured in all subjects for 49 hours using an ambulatory monitoring system. In addition to a comparison between NTG patients and normal controls, the same parameters were compared between NTG patients who had progressive field defects and NTG patients who had stable field defects. RESULTS: The BP in NTG patients was significantly higher than in normal subject. The nocturnal dip of BP in NTG patients was similar to the dip in normal subjects. However, the BP dip in NTG patients showing progressive visual field defects was significantly smaller than in patients with NTG showing stable visual field defects. BP fluctuation in sleep in the 'progressive' patients was significantly greater than in the 'stable' patients. Patients with NTG whose random BP was in a normal range, showed a higher BP than normal subjects. The dip in PR in NTG patients was significantly lower than in normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: An insufficient physiological nocturnal BP dip or a greater nocturnal fluctuation in BP may disturb the microcirculation of, and/or may directly damage, the optic nerve, resulting in increasing field loss in NTG.
Dr K. Kashiwagi, Department of Ophthalmology, Yamanashi Medical University, 1110 Shimokato, Tamaho-cho, Nakakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken 409-3898, Japan
Classification:
9.2.2 Other risk factors for glaucoma (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)
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)
