Abstract
Purpose: :
Although it was reported that intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) may induce retinal arteriolar vasoconstriction, it is unclear whether IVR affects retinal blood flow (RBF). We investigated whether IVR (0.5 mg) affects the retinal hemodynamics in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
Methods: :
Six patients with PCV (mean age, 67 years) were included. The RBF was measured before and 1 month after IVR in 6 eyes of 6 patients. A retinal laser Doppler system (Canon Laser Blood Flowmeter, model CLBF 100, Canon Inc, Tokyo, Japan) was used to measure the diameter, centerline blood velocity, and blood flow in the superior temporal retinal venules.
Results: :
The measurements were as follows: diameter, 132.9±14.1 µm and 130±17.8 µm; velocity, 21.8±3.1 mm/sec and 19.8±9.3 mm/sec; and blood flow, 9.1±2.0 µl/min and 7.7±2.6 µl/min before and 1 month after IVR, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in the parameters before and 1 month after IVR, the blood flow in the retinal venules tended to decrease.
Conclusions: :
This study indicated that there is a tendency for decreased retinal venule blood flow following IVR in patients with PCV.
Keywords: retina • age-related macular degeneration