Color Doppler ultrasonography in ocular Behçet's disease

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the ocular hemodynamic changes in patients with Behçet's disease who had involvement of the posterior segment by color Doppler ultrasonography. Methods: The present study was carried out in 32 eyes of 24 patients with ocular Behçet's disease and 42 eyes of 21 persons as a healthy age-matched control group. In order to detect the hemodynamic changes in ocular Behçet's disease, peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities (PSV, EDV; cm/sec), resistive and pulsatile indices (RI, PI), and PSV/EDV ratio of central retinal artery (CRA), short posterior ciliary artery (PCA) and ophthalmic artery (OA) were determined. Results: The mean PSV and EDV (8.1∫2.6 and 2.7∫0.1 cm/sec, respectively) in the CRA were significantly lower in patients with Behçet's disease than in healthy controls (11.5∫2.2 and 3.5∫1.0 cm/sec, respectively, p∞0.001). For the PCA, these values (12.7∫4.2 and 4.3∫1.1 cm/sec, respectively) were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control the group (18.2∫4.2 and 6.1∫2.5 cm/sec, respectively, p∞0.001). In the patient group, a statistically significant decrease compared to the control group was detected in the mean PSV of the OA (31.8∫8.2 and 35.8∫0.6 cm/sec, respectively, p∞0.02). However, no significant difference in the other parameters of these vessels was observed between groups.Conclusions: These results demonstrate the presence of some circulatory changes in the flow velocities of the CRA, PCA and OA in patients with Behçet's disease when compared with control subjects.

Ocular Blood Flow Changes in Behçet Disease Patients with/without Thrombotic Disease

“…20,23,28 Reduction in OA and TPCA blood flows have also been found in BD patients. 20 BD mainly affects inner retinal layers. Therefore, involvement of the CRA plays an important role in the pathogenesis of BD.…”

“…24 The CRA, TPCA, and OA flow parameters in BD patients with ocular involvement are explained by increased vascular resistance caused by the narrowing or closure of the small blood vessels due to vasculitis, according to clinical and histopathological findings. 20 The CRA's EDV and PSV decreased in BD patients without ocular involvement; however, there were no changes in the TPCA, so it is suggested that the TPCA parameters were affected during the later stages of the disease. TPCA flow parameter changes appear when ocular involvement begins in the later stages of the disease.…”

“…6 There are several studies conducted to examine the orbital haemodynamic changes in BD. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] In these studies, reduction in orbital blood flow and increase in RI were reported in BD patients and the most common finding was the reduction in the CRA blood flow compared with the normal subjects. 20,23,28 Reduction in OA and TPCA blood flows have also been found in BD patients.…”

“…Therefore, involvement of the CRA plays an important role in the pathogenesis of BD. 20 Celebi et al and Ozdemir et al showed that the PSV and EDV in the CRA of ocular BD patients were lower than that of non-ocular BD patients and the control group. 20,21 Duranoglu et al and Caca et al report that non-ocular BD patients' PSV and EDV in the CRA were lower and their RI was higher than control group.…”

“…20 Celebi et al and Ozdemir et al showed that the PSV and EDV in the CRA of ocular BD patients were lower than that of non-ocular BD patients and the control group. 20,21 Duranoglu et al and Caca et al report that non-ocular BD patients' PSV and EDV in the CRA were lower and their RI was higher than control group. 23,27 In our study, when active ocular BD was compared with non-ocular BD with and without thrombosis, the CRA's PSV and EDV values were lower and the RI and PI were higher in active ocular BD patients.…”