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. 2000 Nov;84(11):1282–1284. doi: 10.1136/bjo.84.11.1282

Ocular pulse amplitude in diabetes mellitus

K Schmidt 1, A von Ruckmann 1, B Kemkes-Matthes 1, H Hammes 1
PMCID: PMC1723308  PMID: 11049955

Abstract

BACKGROUND—The influence of diabetes mellitus on ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), an indirect measure of choroidal perfusion, is unclear.
METHODS—OPA, using the Langham ocular blood flow (OBF) system, applanation intraocular pressure (IOP), systemic blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and haemoglobin (Hb) A1c were measured in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with no (DR-0, n = 22) non-proliferative (DR-1, n = 24), and proliferative (DR-2, n = 18) diabetic retinopathy.
RESULTS—Neither local (OPA, IOP) nor systemic perfusion parameters (BPs, HR) nor HbA1c were significantly altered in DR-0, DR-1, or DR-2 IDDM patients.
CONCLUSION—Choroidal circulation remains unaffected as diabetic retinopathy advances.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Ocular pulse amplitudes (OPA; mean (SD)) of patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus with different stages of diabetic retinopathy, no (DR-0, n = 22), non-proliferative (DR-1, n = 24), and proliferative (DR-2, n = 18) diabetic retinopathy compared with matched subgroups from a pool of healthy controls (n = 72). There were no significant changes in any of the parameters shown in this diagram using Student's unpaired two tailed t test.

Selected References

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