29 Ophthalmic Blood Flow Velocity (OBFV) In Sick Neonates

Abstract

Abnormal pattern of cerebral BFV (CBFV) is known in neonates with diseases, associated with an increased risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). No information is available on OBFV (cm/s) In sick neonates, we studied OBFV and CBFV by pulsed Dopplersonography in 21 preterm (median gest. age 28 wks. range 24-32) and 5 term neonates, with different problems, causing abnormal OBFV. (Patent ductus art.(PDA, n=15). Indomethacin(n=1), polycythemia(n=5), hypocapnia (n=5). hydrocephalus(n=1). 30 normal neonates (1). matched for GA, served as controls. Results: Changes in OBFV were always related to changes in OBFV. No infant with abnormal CBFV had normal OBFV. PDA caused increased systolic and decreased or reverse diastolic OBFV. All other conditions were associated with a decrease in syst. and dlast. OBFV. Mean OBFV decreased between 30 and 81 % in polycythemic infants. The decrease was usually more marked in OBFV than in CBFV. however in hypocapnic Infants mean OBFV was less decreased (2% / torr pCO2) than CBFV (4% / torr PCO2). Conclusion: Low OBFV is present in neonates with clinical conditions causing decreased CBFV, this may cause abnormal retinal perfusion. Thus, abnormal OBFV may be a risk factor for ROP. CO2 reactivity of ophthalmic and cerebral arteries may be different. (1) Controls are partly presented in Pediatr Res 22:241A, 1987.