Blum M., Vollrath D., Bachmann K., Strobel J.

Universitäts-Augenklinik Jena, Bachstr.18, 07743 Jena

Objectives: The Retinal-Vessel-Analyzer (RVA) offers the unique opportunity of non-invasive online measurements of retinal vessel diameters. Breathing of 100% oxygen is one method to test vessel contractility of retinal arterioles. In the following study different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) were tested.
Methods: After a 3-minute baseline measurement 40 patients with diabetes were exposed to 100% oxygen breathing for a 5-minute period. The diameter of a retinal arteriole was measured by the use of the RVA continuously during this time. Subjects were divided into 4 groups with different stages of DR. Group I: no RD; group II: mild/moderate RD; group III: moderate/severe non proliferative RD with lasertreatment; group IV: proliferative RD with lasertreatment.
Results: In group I with n=12 patients (age 44.4 (+/-12.2) yrs.) a vasoconstriction of -6.2 (+/-4.0)% was measurable on average after 5 minutes of breathing 100% oxygen. In group II (n=8; age 46.6 (+/-13.9) yrs.) -6.1 (+/-2.8)% and in group III (n=8; age 54.6 (+/-6.8) yrs.) -6.6 (+/- 4.1)% vasoconstriction were found. Group IV with n=12 subjects (age 55.0 (+/-11.8) yrs.) presented a mild vasodilatation of +0.8 (+/-4.7)%.
Conclusion: No significant differences could be found in the vasoreaction to 100% oxygen-breathing in different stages of non-proliferative RD. However, a significant reduction could be demonstrated in proliferative DR with this method. Supported by OphthalmoInnovation Thüringen (OIT): BMBF No. 13N8003

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