P 281
Changes in the retinal macrocirculation in patients with M. HortonM. J. M. Groh, H. Wenkel, J. Harazny, G. Michelson
Aim: Aim of this study was to determine the changes in ocular macrocirculation in patients with histological proofen arteriitis temporalis.
Patients and method: We examined the blood flow in the central retinal artery, the ophthalmic artery, the internal carotid artery and the arteria temporalis in patients preoperative to a biopsy for suspect M. Horton. In 100 patients histological specimen were negative (64 female, 36 male; mean age 62,5 ± 17 years). In 36 patients M. Horton was proofed histologically (21 female, 15 male; mean age 65,2 ± 15 years). Macrocirculation was measured with pulsed doppler-sonography (EME, Germany, 4 Mhz und 8 Mhz). We measured the systolic (SYS) and diastolic (DIAST) velocity and the mean velocity (MEAN). For statistical examination only one eye per patient was used.
Results: Bloodflow of the ophthalmic artery (O) was significant higher in patients with M. Horton than in the control group (OMEAN 23,7 ± 20,8 cm/sec versus 16,5 ± 15,4 cm/sec; P = 0,003). In the internal carotid artery (CI) velocity is increased at a low level in comparison to patients with negative biopsy (CIMEAN 31,1 ± 28,9 cm/sec versus 29,3 ± 25,3 cm/sec; p = 0,06). Arteria temporalis (T) blood velocity is significant increased in patients with a positive histological finding (TMEAN 15,7 ± 10,5 cm/sec versus 10,0 ± 9,0 cm/sec; p = 0,05). There are no differences concerning the central retinal artery blood velocity between the two groups.
Conclusion: Blood velocity is increased in patients with M. Horton in the arteria temporalis. This may be due to the inflammation of the vessel´s wall. Ophthalmic artery blood velocity changes may also be due to this mechanism. Blood flow changes in the greater vessels (internal carotid artery) may be reactive to the changes in the smaller ones.
Augenklinik mit Poliklinik der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen