Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Reduced cerebral blood flow and decreased cerebral metabolic rate for glucose have been previously identified in patients with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ocular haemodynamics are similarly reduced in patients with epilepsy. Methods: Scanning laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure retinal capillary microvascular flow, volume and velocity in the temporal neuroretinal rim of 14 patients diagnosed with epilepsy (mean age 42.0 0.9 years). These values were compared to a normal subject group (n=14, mean age 41.7 0.3 years). Student’s unpaired 2-tailed t-tests were used to compare ocular blood flow parameters between the epilepsy and normal subject group (p<0.05; Bonferroni corrected). Results: Significantly lower retinal blood volume (p=0.003), flow (p=0.001) and velocity (p=0.001) was observed in the epilepsy group (13.52 3.75 AU, 219.14 76.61 AU & 0.77 0.269 AU respectively) compared to the normal subject group (19.02 5.11 AU, 344.03 93.03 AU & 1.17 0.301 AU respectively). Overall, the percentage mean difference between the epilepsy and normal group was 28.92% for volume, 36.31% for flow and 34.19% for velocity. Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy exhibit reductions in neuroretinal capillary blood volume, velocity and flow compared to normal subjects. A reduction in ocular perfusion may have implications on visual function in people with epilepsy.
Keywords: 331 blood supply • 390 drug toxicity/drug effects • 554 retina