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Title:

Blood pressure effects on retinal vessel diameter and flicker response: a 1.5-year follow-up.

Document type:
Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Author(s):
Nagel, E; Vilser, W; Fink, A; Riemer, T; Lanzl, I
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The study examined the influence of individual blood pressure changes overtime on retinal vessel diameter and the latter's response to flicker light. METHODS: The diameter of a retinal arterial and venous segment was measured continuously on-line with a Dynamic Vessel Analyzer in 20 patients twice (mean interval between examinations of 24 months). Eleven patients had no cardiovascular disease. Nine patients had arterial hypertension and were untreated at the time of the first measurement; at the time of the second measurement they were undergoing various antihypertensive therapies. Each test consisted of a 50-s baseline plus three 20-s periods of flicker stimulation followed by an 80-s period of observation. During the examinations the blood pressure was measured at 1-minute intervals. RESULTS: In the hypertension group changes in the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) correlated significantly with changes in the arterial baseline diameter (y = -0.1 - 0.37x, r =0.74, p (increase) <0.03). A comparison of the two measurements showed no such relationship in the group of cardiovascularly healthy subjects. The venous baseline and the arterial and venous flicker response did not change significantly in either group between the two measurements and showed no relationship to blood pressure changes. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive subjects, long-term therapy-related changes in blood pressure induced a change in the arterial baseline by approximately +3.7 microm/-10 mmHg MAP. An influence of lowering MAP to the arterial flicker response could not be detected.
Journal title abbreviation:
Eur J Ophthalmol
Year:
2006
Journal volume:
16
Journal issue:
4
Pages contribution:
560-5
Language:
eng
Pubmed ID:
http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16952095
Print-ISSN:
1120-6721
TUM Institution:
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde
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