Pulsatile versus non‐pulsatile choroidal blood flow in Primary Open‐Angle Glaucoma (POAG)

Abstract

AbstractPurpose After demonstrating altered subfoveal choroidal blood flow(F)in POAG (AbouSamra et al,Acta Ophthal 2012,we now studied the waveform of the pulsatile component of F(FP) in normal subjects and POAG patients. Methods Using laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF,F and FP were measured in 17 healthy controls and 19 age‐ and sex‐matched POAG patients. We determined the waveform amplitude A(=1‐FPdiast/FPsyst) during the heart beat and the times T(d‐s) and T(s‐d) to increase from the diastolic to the systolic and to decrease from the systolic to the diastolic values of FP, respectively. Results Both mean F and mean FP were significantly (p < 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively) reduced in the POAG compared to the control group. However mean FP/mean F was not significantly different between groups. Relative to the brachial artery value, the A‐value at the subfovea was significantly increased in POAG compared to controls. The mean vascular resistance (R = mean perfusion pressure /mean F) was markedly increased(p < 0.0001 in the POAG group. There was no significant differences in T(d‐s) and T(s‐d) between the groups. Conclusion These LDF‐based findings further support the presence of hemodynamic alterations in the subfoveal choroid in POAG.