Related Experiment Videos
Evaluation of pulsatile choroidal blood flow in branch retinal vein occlusion
Alexandra Luksch1, Noémi Maár, Michael Tittl
1Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University of Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) show higher pulsatile choroidal blood flow. This increased blood flow in the choroid may compensate for reduced retinal blood flow in BRVO patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Vascular Biology
- Retinal Diseases
Background:
- Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is a common vascular disorder affecting the retina.
- Understanding the hemodynamic changes in BRVO is crucial for managing the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare pulsatile choroidal blood flow in BRVO patients with healthy controls.
- To investigate potential compensatory mechanisms in the choroid.
Main Methods:
- Utilized laser interferometry to measure fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) in the fovea.
- Included 16 patients with manifest BRVO and 36 healthy, age- and sex-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher FPA in BRVO-affected eyes (4.4 microm) compared to fellow eyes (3.8 microm).
- Elevated FPA in BRVO eyes also significantly differed from healthy controls (3.3 microm).
Conclusions:
- Increased FPA suggests augmented pulsatile choroidal blood flow in BRVO.
- This compensatory increase in choroidal blood flow may mitigate reduced retinal blood flow due to BRVO.
Background:
The present study was undertaken to compare pulsatile choroidal blood flow in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with the values in normal controls.
Methods:
The study included male and female patients with manifest BRVO (n=16) and a healthy sex- and age-matched control group (n=36). Fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) was measured in the fovea by laser interferometry to assess pulsatile choroidal blood flow.
Results:
The FPA in eyes with BRVO (4.4 microm) was significantly higher than in the fellow eye (3.8 microm; P<0.0005). There was also a significant difference between the affected eye of the patients and the healthy control group (3.3 microm; P<0.0009).
Conclusion:
The increase in FPA indicates increased choroidal blood flow resulting from some local mechanisms compensating for the decrease in retinal blood flow.