[2% ibopamine vs. water-drinking test as a provocative test for glaucoma].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma diagnostics

Background:

• Glaucoma diagnosis often relies on provocative tests to assess intraocular pressure (IOP) response.
• Comparing the efficacy of different provocative tests is crucial for improving diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic performance of the 2% ibopamine provocative test against the water drinking test for glaucoma detection.
• To evaluate sensitivity and specificity of both tests in a cohort of glaucoma patients and normal individuals.

Main Methods:

• A randomized crossover study design was employed, involving primary open-angle glaucoma patients and healthy controls.
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before and after both the ibopamine and water drinking tests.
• Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to determine sensitivity and specificity.

Main Results:

• The ibopamine provocative test yielded a significantly higher area under the ROC curve (0.987) compared to the water drinking test (0.807).
• Glaucoma patients showed a statistically significant IOP increase after provocative testing, with a greater mean variation observed with ibopamine (4.4 mmHg) versus water (3.2 mmHg).
• No significant differences in IOP parameters were observed in normal individuals between the two tests.

Conclusions:

• The 2% ibopamine provocative test exhibits superior sensitivity and specificity for identifying glaucoma, particularly in patients with early visual field defects, compared to the water drinking test.
• Ibopamine may serve as a more effective diagnostic tool for glaucoma screening and management.