Retinal angiography and colour Doppler of retrobulbar vessels in Takayasu arteritis

• Published in: Canadian journal of ophthalmology 2014-02, Vol.49 (1), p.80-86
• Main Authors: Matos, Kimble Teixeira Fonseca, MD, Arantes, Tiago, MD, Souza, Alexandre Wagner Silva, MD, Ramos, Maria Helena Mandello Carvalhaes, MD, Allemann, Norma, MD, Muccioli, Cristina, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Case-Control Studies; Ciliary Arteries - physiology; Coloring Agents; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Indocyanine Green; Internal Medicine; Intraocular Pressure; Middle Aged; Ophthalmic Artery - physiology; Ophthalmology; Prospective Studies; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Retinal Artery - physiology; Takayasu Arteritis - diagnosis; Takayasu Arteritis - physiopathology; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0008-4182; 1715-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2013.09.014

Abstract Objective Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic, granulomatous, idiopathic, inflammatory disease that primarily affects large vessels. The objective of this study was to evaluate and describe the ocular manifestations of TA, correlating the resistivity and pressure in retrobulbar vessels by colour Doppler and retinal angiography. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Twenty-one patients with TA, 42 eyes, and 21 patients without TA (42 eyes) as control subjects. Methods This study was performed in clinical practice. Patients with TA received complete ophthalmologic examination, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and colour Doppler ultrasound to evaluate blood flow in the retrobulbar vessels. Results A statistical correlation was found between peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and Heidelberg retinal angiography (HRA) examination results ( p = 0.006), and resistivity index (RI) in the OA was abnormal in patients with long (average, 14 years) versus short (average, 5.5 years) onset time of the disease ( p = 0.035). RI in the central retinal artery (CRA) was abnormal in patients with a long time of disease onset (mean 14.4 years) versus those with a short time (mean 4.6 years) of onset ( p = 0.006). Conclusions The longer the onset of the disease, the more commonly the RI showed changes in the OA and CRA, and, to a lesser extent, in the short posterior ciliary artery. When abnormalities are observed in the HRA examination, abnormal PSV in the OA may be present. Doppler blood flow evaluation and HRA may have predictive value in all patients with TA as part of serial monitoring.