[Hemodynamic aspects of retinitis pigmentosa]

While retinal vascular attenuation is a typical finding in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), studies on changes in choroidal vasculature have yielded contradictory results. In 44 patients with RP the relative pulse blood volumes were measured, and perfusion pressure videoangiography (PVA) was performed in 7 of them. Follow-up examinations were performed in 14 of the patients between 1.5 and 6 years later. The results show that the choroidal circulation is considerably reduced in RP patients; it was found to be further reduced at the follow-up examinations. PVA shows atrophy of the choroid capillary network. Characteristic changes occur not only in the retinal but also in the choroidal circulation, depending on the form, duration (stage) and prognosis of the disease.