Color Doppler hemodynamics of giant cell arteritis

To determine quantitative and qualitative hemodynamic alterations within the ophthalmic, central retinal, and short posterior ciliary arteries in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) proved by biopsy specimen.

A consecutive case series of patients with GCA referred to an urban eye hospital who were evaluated with color Doppler imaging that was used to analyze orbital blood flow velocities and vascular resistance in 22 consecutive patients with GCA compared with age and sex-matched controls.

Patients with GCA all demonstrated significantly reduced central retinal and short posterior ciliary arterial mean flow velocities as well as significantly increased vascular resistance compared with matched controls. Ophthalmic artery mean flow velocity demonstrated marked variation depending on the anatomic location studied. Other color Doppler imaging characteristics of GCA included the following: ophthalmic artery aliasing (high velocity and turbulent flow at presumed focal vasculitic stenoses), reversal of flow within the ophthalmic artery, reduced and truncated time-velocity waveforms of the central retinal and short posterior ciliary arteries, and absolute deficits of flow within the central retinal and short posterior ciliary arteries. Aliasing of flow velocity within the ophthalmic artery (two patients) was associated with clinical progression of GCA.

These data support the concept that quantitative and qualitative alterations in blood flow or pathophysiologic mechanisms of visual loss in GCA. This technique may be useful in the diagnosis and management of GCA since some of the color Doppler waveforms observed in GCA have not been seen in non-arteritic optic neuropathy. Treatment with corticosteroids often appears to stop the progression of these hemodynamic abnormalities but generally does not improve preexisting vascular abnormalities.