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Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:630-633 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.146597
  • Clinical science
    • Original Article

Macular microcirculation and macular oedema in branch retinal vein occlusion

  1. H Noma1,2,
  2. H Funatsu1,
  3. K Sakata3,
  4. S Harino4,
  5. T Nagaoka5,
  6. T Mimura6,
  7. T Sone2,
  8. S Hori3
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Chiba, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan
  3. 3
    Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
  4. 4
    Department of Ophthalmology, Yodogawa Christian Hospital, Osaka, Japan
  5. 5
    Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan
  6. 6
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
  1. Dr H Noma, Department of Ophthalmology, Yachiyo Medical Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 477-96, Owada-shinden, Yachiyo, Chiba 276-8524, Japan; nomahide{at}tymc.twmu.ac.jp
  • Accepted 20 December 2008
  • Published Online First 10 February 2009

Abstract

Background/aims: The relationship between the blood-flow velocity in the perifoveal capillaries and macular oedema was investigated in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods: This study compared 18 patients with BRVO and 16 healthy volunteers. Perifoveal capillary blood-flow velocity was measured on fluorescein angiograms with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope by the tracing method. Retinal thickness at the central fovea was measured by optical coherence tomography. Then, the relation between perifoveal capillary blood-flow velocity and retinal thickness at the central fovea was investigated.

Results: Perifoveal capillary blood-flow velocity was significantly lower in the patients with BRVO (1.08 (SD 0.28) mm/s) than in the healthy volunteers (1.49 (0.11) mm/s) (p<0.0001). Capillary blood-flow velocity showed a negative correlation with the retinal thickness at the central fovea in the two groups (r = −0.8426, p<0.0001). Multivariate linear regression analysis with stepwise variable selection confirmed that capillary blood-flow velocity was an independent determinant of the retinal thickness at the central fovea (p<0.001).

Conclusion: A reduction in perifoveal capillary blood-flow velocity may be involved in the development of macular oedema in patients with BRVO.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was provided by the institutional review boards of Tokyo Women’s Medical University and Hiroshima University.

  • Patient consent: Obtained.

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