Effects of acetazolamide on choroidal blood flow

The acetazolamide provocation test is commonly used to study cerebrovascular vasomotor reactivity. On the basis of the effect of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor in the central nervous system, we hypothesized that acetazolamide may also increase blood flow in the human choroid.

In a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, three-way crossover design, acetazolamide (500 mg or 1000 mg i.v.) or placebo was administered to nine healthy subjects. The effect of acetazolamide was studied at 15-minute intervals for 90 minutes. Pulsatile choroidal blood flow was assessed with laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation. In addition, mean blood flow velocity and resistive index in the ophthalmic artery were measured with Doppler sonography. In a second study in six healthy subjects, we assessed the effect of acetazolamide (1000 mg i.v.) on intraocular pressure.

Acetazolamide increased fundus pulsation amplitude in a dose-dependent manner (1000 mg: +33%; 500 mg: +20%; P<0.001, ANOVA). The effect of acetazolamide on MFV (1000 mg: +18%; 500 mg: +8%; P=0.003, ANOVA) and RI (1000 mg: -4%; 500 mg: -2%; P=0.006, ANOVA) was less pronounced but also significant. Acetazolamide did not induce any changes in systemic hemodynamic parameters but significantly decreased intraocular pressure (1000 mg: -37%; P<0.0001).

The present data show for the first time that intravenously administered acetazolamide increases choroidal blood flow in humans. This phenomenon therefore indicates that the acetazolamide provocation test may qualify as a tool to investigate ocular vasomotor reactivity in a variety of ocular diseases. Moreover, the increase in choroidal blood flow after carbonic anhydrase inhibition can be expected to contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in glaucoma.