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Abstract #15426 Published in IGR 1-3
Ocular pulse amplitude, intraocular pressure and beta-blocker/carbonic anhydrase combination therapy
Schmidt KG; Von Rückmann A; Becker R; Pillunat LEKlinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde 1999; 215: 361-366
BACKGROUND: More than intraocular pressure (IOP, German abbreviation: IOD) ocular perfusion is increasingly discussed in the pathogenesis of the glaucomas. The present study was designed to investigate the ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG, German abbreviation: POWG) patients with elevated IOP, following application of timolol, a beta-blocker, and dorzolamide, a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. METHODS: OPA (Ocular Blood Flow System, OBF Labs, UK), IOP, heart rate, systolic and diastolic brachial artery pressures, were measured before and four weeks following the application of timolol, and after an additional four weeks following the application of a timolol/dorzolamide combination, in 14 POAG patients. RESULTS: Following the administration of timolol, IOP was highly significantly reduced in drug-treated POAG eyes; this effect was enhanced even more by dorzolamide. Timolol did not affect OPA, whereas dorzolamide significantly increased OPA in drug-treated POAG eyes. Systemic perfusion parameters were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Timolol and dorzolamide drastically reduced IOP, and, in addition, dorzolamide increased OPA in POAG eyes, an ocular microcirculatory effect that may further help to improve the prognosis of POAG.LA: German
Dr. K.G. Schmidt, Universitäts-Augenklinik, Friedrichstrasse 18, D-35385 Giessen; Germany
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
11.3.4 Betablocker (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
11.5.2 Topical (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.5 Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors)
