Abstract
Purpose: :
Examination of ocular blood flow (OBF) represents a clinical device to measure the perfusion of choroid. Changes of choroidal perfusion seem to be linked to an impairment of retinal function. Target of this study was to evaluate the alteration of choroidal perfusion in patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system before and after bone marrow transplantation.
Methods: :
10 patients with diseases of the hematopoietic system were included in this study. Best–corrected visual acuity was determined at both point of times. OBF ( µl/min.) and intraocular pressure (IOP)(mmHg) were measured by the Blood Flow Analyzer (BFA) before and six months after transplantation.Statistical analysis was performed using the student–t test considering p < 0,05 as statistically significant.
Results: :
We observed a substantial increase of the ocular blood flow (14%) (p < 0,05) six months after bone marrow transplantation. The IOP was significantly decreased (31%) (p < 0,05) after transplantation. Furthermore no statistically relevant difference in best–corrected visual acuity was notable.
Conclusions: :
Diseases of the hematopoietic system may affect the eye due to minor choroidal perfusion and increased intraocular pressure values. Recovery of hematopoietic parameters seems to be accompanied by an improvement of OBF and a decrease of IOP.
Keywords: choroid • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications • oncology