Systemic Arterial Stiffness in Glaucoma Patients

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Disturbance of systemic circulation is one of possible risk factors in glaucoma. Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a marker of systemic arterial stiffness that deeply effects on the systemic or local circulation. In this study, we determined baPWV for investigating the relationship between systemic arterial stiffness and glaucoma. Methods: Forty six patients with glaucoma (31 normal tension glaucoma: NTG and 15 primary open angle glaucoma: POAG) and 47 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference in age distribution among groups and all subjects had no known factors influencing arterial sclerosis such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. The baPWV was determined using a volume–plethysmographic apparatus (Colin Co., Komaki, Japan). Parameters investigated for correlation with baPWV were mean deviation (MD) obtained from the Humphrey Field Analyzer program 30–2, age, and other systemic or local factors. Results: The baPWV is positively correlated with age in all groups (NTG; r²=0.51,POAG; r²=0.28,Normal ;r²=0.24). Whereas, the baPWV was significantly correlated with MD only in the NTG group(NTG ;r²=0.27,POAG ;r²=0.002). Other parameters did not show any significant correlation. Conclusions: These results indicated that the systemic arterial stiffness may be associated with patients with NTG.

Keywords: optic flow • visual fields