Relationship between optic nerve head and finger blood flow.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vascular Biology
• Medical Physiology

Background:

• Primary vascular dysregulation (PVD) affects blood flow regulation.
• Understanding microvascular changes in PVD is crucial for ocular health.
• Optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow is vital for vision, but its regulation in PVD is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between ONH blood flow and finger blood flow.
• To compare these blood flow parameters in individuals with and without PVD.
• To explore potential indicators of disturbed ocular autoregulation in PVD patients.

Main Methods:

• Studied 15 subjects with PVD and 24 without PVD.
• Assessed PVD presence via patient history and nailfold capillaromicroscopy.
• Measured ONH and finger blood flow using scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF).
• Recorded finger skin temperature using a contact sensor.

Main Results:

• A significant relationship (p<0.01) was found between ONH blood flow and finger blood flow in subjects with PVD.
• No significant correlation was observed between ONH and finger blood flow in subjects without PVD.
• Individuals with PVD exhibited significantly lower finger skin temperature (p<0.01) compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a link between ONH and finger blood flow in PVD patients.
• This association may indicate impaired autoregulation of ocular blood flow in PVD.
• Findings suggest PVD may impact ocular circulation, warranting further investigation.