Assessment of Doppler flow parameters of the retrobulbar arteries and internal carotid artery in patients with glaucoma: the significance of ophthalmic artery peak ratio and the intima-media thickness of the internal carotid artery.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze flow parameters of the central retinal artery (CRA), ophthalmic artery (OA), and internal carotid artery (ICA) assessed by color Doppler ultrasound. Thirty-five patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (PAAG), 65 patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), and 45 healthy controls, a total of 145 patients were included in this study and study participants were divided into three groups. All study participants underwent color Doppler ultrasound to assess blood flow parameters of CRA, OA and ICA. Comparisons among three groups revealed that pulsatility index and resistive index of the OA were significantly higher and peak ratio and end-systolic volume were significantly lower in patients with NTG or PAAG compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001 for all). As with OA, resistive index of the CRA was statistically significantly higher in patients with glaucoma (PAAG and NTG) compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). The peak systolic volume and intima-media thickness of the ICA were statistically significantly higher in patients with PAAG compared to the other two groups (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis of the CRA resistive index, OA resistive index and OA peak ratio in patients with glaucoma (PAAG and NTG) revealed that the sensitivity and specificity were 89% and 88%; 86% and 84%; 84% and 82%, respectively, at cutoff values of 0.64, 0.78 and 0.59, respectively. Ophthalmic artery peak ratio and ICA intima-media thickness may be useful parameters in the diagnosis of patients with glaucoma.