Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 49, Number 4, 287-293, DOI: 10.1007/s10384-004-0208-2

Published in partnership with the

Logo

Japanese Ophthalmological Society

LABORATORY INVESTIGATION

Effect of Topical Unoprostone Isopropyl on Optic Nerve Head Circulation in Controls and in Normal-Tension Glaucoma Patients

Itaru Kimura, Kei Shinoda, Tomihiko Tanino, Yuichiro Ohtake and Yukihiko Mashima

View Related Documents

Abstract

Purpose  

To evaluate the effect of unoprostone isopropyl on microcirculation in the optic nerve head (ONH) of controls and patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

Methods  

Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly placed in a placebo group or a control group. For ten NTG patients, one eye was selected to receive the placebo drops and the contralateral eye received the unoprostone in a masked fashion. In both studies, the intraocular pressure (IOP) and the parameters of the blood hemodynamics of the ONH were obtained before and at 1 and 2 h after the instillation. Blood flow measurements were made with a scanning laser Doppler flowmeter.

Results  

In both control subjects and NTG patients, the changes in the IOPs after the instillation of either unoprostone or the placebo were not significant because almost all of the NTG patients had IOPs lower than 15 mmHg. Although the hemodynamic parameters were not significantly changed in the placebo-treated eyes of the controls, the eyes of the controls treated with unoprostone had mean blood velocity and flow values that were significantly higher than the baseline values 1 and 2 h after instillation (P < 0.01).="" the="" velocity="" values="" of="" the="" controls="" treated="" with="" unoprostone="" were="" significantly="" higher="" than="" in="" those="" controls="" receiving="" the="" placebo="" at="" 2 h="" postinstillation="">P = 0.027). The values for the three circulation parameters (volume, velocity, flow) were significantly higher than the baseline values after instillation in the eyes of the NTG patients treated with unoprostone (P < 0.05).="" in="" contrast,="" none="" of="" these="" parameters="" was="" significantly="" different="" from="" the="" baseline="" in="" the="" eyes="" of="" ntg="" patients="" treated="" with="">

Conclusions  

These results showed that unoprostone significantly increased microcirculation in the ONH in control subjects and in NTG patients without reducing the IOP significantly. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2005;49:287–293 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005

Key words  human study - normal-tension glaucoma - ocular blood flow - optic nerve head circulation - unoprostone isopropyl

Fulltext Preview

Image of the first page of the fulltext document