Abstract

Background. A growing body of evidence suggests that effective blood pressure reduction may inhibit the progression of microvascular damage in patients with essential arterial hypertension. However, the potential influence of anti-hypertensive drugs on ocular circulation has not been studied sufficiently.Purpose. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of anti-hypertensive therapy on blood flow in the central retinal artery in patients with systemic arterial hypertension.Material and methods. Twenty patients with essential arterial hypertension, aged 32–46 years, were examined with Doppler ultrasonography (10 MHz ultrasound probe). Blood flow velocities, pulsatility, and vascular resistance were determined before and 3 hours after systemic application of either bisoprolol 5 mg or cilazapril 2.5 mg.Results. Administered bisoprolol significantly decreased maximum (9.8 ± 0.5 cm/s versus 8.5 ± 0.6 cm/s; P < 0.05) and minimum (2.75 ± 0.19 cm/s versus 1.75 ± 0.27 cm/s; P < 0.02) velocity, increased the Pourcellot's index (0.71 to 0.79; P < 0.05) in central retinal artery. There were no statistically significant changes in central retinal artery blood flow after administration of cilazapril.Conclusion. Systemic application of beta-blockers may unfavourably disturb the ocular blood flow.

Highlights

  • Systemic arterial hypertension gradually contributes to progressive damage of arterial vessels

  • The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of BB and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on central retinal artery (CRA) flow assessed with Doppler ultrasonography in patients with systemic arterial hypertension

  • Our preliminary observations showed a different influence of BB and ACEI on the blood flow parameters within the CRA

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Summary

Introduction

Systemic arterial hypertension gradually contributes to progressive damage of arterial vessels. Whereas beta-adrenergic receptors and components of tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) receptors have been localized within the ophthalmic circulation [3,4,5,6], potential unfavourable antihypertensive drug effects on ocular blood flow must be considered before pharmacotherapy selection. A growing body of evidence suggests that effective blood pressure reduction may inhibit the progression of microvascular damage in patients with essential arterial hypertension. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of anti-hypertensive therapy on blood flow in the central retinal artery in patients with systemic arterial hypertension. Pulsatility, and vascular resistance were determined before and 3 hours after systemic application of either bisoprolol 5 mg or cilazapril 2.5 mg. Systemic application of beta-blockers may unfavourably disturb the ocular blood flow

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