1. Subfoveal choroidal blood flow and central retinal function in retinitis pigmentosa
- Author
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Dario Marangoni, Antonello Fadda, Benedetto Falsini, Charles E. Riva, Gian Mario Anselmi, Antonio Di Renzo, Fabiana D'Esposito, Emilio C. Campos, Falsini, Benedetto, Anselmi Gian, Mario, Marangoni, D, D'Esposito, Fabiana, Fadda, Antonello, Di Renzo, Antonio, Campos Emilio, C., Riva Charles, E., Falsini B., Anselmi G., Marangoni D., D'Esposito F., Fadda A, Di Renzo A., and Campos E.C.
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Fovea Centralis ,Visual acuity ,Adolescent ,Visual Acuity ,electroretinogram ,Hemodynamics ,Hematocrit ,Retina ,Young Adult ,Ophthalmology ,retinitis pigmentosa ,medicine ,Electroretinography ,Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ,Humans ,blood flow ,Fluorescein Angiography ,Child ,Retinite pigmentosa ,Aged ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Settore MED/30 - MALATTIE APPARATO VISIVO ,Fovea centralis ,Anatomy ,Blood flow ,Laser Doppler velocimetry ,Middle Aged ,Fluorescein angiography ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Central retina ,Regional Blood Flow ,Visual Field Tests ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,choroid ,Blood Flow Velocity - Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine whether subfoveal choroidal blood flow is altered in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and whether this alteration is associated with central cone-mediated dysfunction. METHODS: In 31 RP patients (age range, 15-72 years) with preserved visual acuity (range: 20/30-20/20), subfoveal choroidal blood flow was measured by real-time, confocal laser Doppler flowmetry, and focal macular (18°) electroretinograms (FERGs) were elicited by 41 Hz flickering stimuli. Twenty normal subjects served as controls. The following average blood flow parameters were determined based on three 60-second recordings: volume (ChBVol), velocity (ChBVel), and flow (ChBF), the last being proportional to blood flow if the hematocrit remains constant. The amplitude and phase of the FERG first harmonic component were measured. RESULTS: On average, ChBF and ChBVel were reduced by 26% (P ≤ 0.02) in RP patients compared to controls, whereas ChBVol was similar in the two groups. FERG amplitudes were reduced by 60% (P < 0.01) in patients compared with controls. FERG phases of patients tended to be delayed (P < 0.08) compared with their values in the controls. In patients, FERG phase delays were correlated (r = 0.50, P < 0.01) with ChBF and ChBVel values. FERG amplitudes were correlated (r = 0.49, P < 0.01) with ChBVol values. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate significant alterations of subfoveal choroidal hemodynamic in RP and suggest a link between the alteration of ChBF and the RP-associated central cone-mediated dysfunction as assessed by the FERG
- Published
- 2011