J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Oct;31(4):641-644.

Doppler Sonographic Evaluation of Ophthalmic Arterial Flow Pattern in Hypertensive Patients

• Kim YG
• Ryu DS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the Doppler velocity waveform pattern of ophthalmic artery of hypertensive patients with that of normotensive subjects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Doppler velocity waveform was obtained from ophthalmic artery in 45 hypertensive patients and 60 normotensive subjects. Both hypertensives and normotensive subjects were classified according to age into those younger than and those older than 45 years. Doppler indices[pulsatility index(PI), resistance index(RI), the first systolic peak/the second systolic peak(S1/S2), the first sytolic peak/diastolic peak (S1/D)] measured in hypertensive patients were compared with normotensive subjects.
RESULTS
Among the various doppler indices, only S1/S2 showed significant difference(p < 0.05) between the hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects younger than 45 years. Doppler velocity waveform of hypertensive patients older than 45 years showed no significant difference from that of normotensive subjects with corresponding age.
CONCLUSION
Doppler velocity waveform of ophthalmic artery in hyopertensive patients younger than 45 years shows pattern with S2 higher than that of normotensive subjects. High S2 component(reflective-wave) may represent increased vascular impedance ~ue to vasococonstriction of retinal arterioles in hypertensve patients.

MeSH Terms

Arterioles
Electric Impedance
Humans
Ophthalmic Artery
Retinaldehyde
Ultrasonography*
Retinaldehyde