OPHTHALMIC ARTERY BLOOD FLOW VELOCITY IN NEONATES: RELATION TO CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND CARDIAC OUTPUT

摘要

Ophthalmic blood flow has been discussed in relation to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). We measured blood flow velocities (BFV) in both ophthalmic arteries (OA), median (MCA) and anterior cerebral artery (ACA), by pulsed Doppler in 18 normokapnic, normotensive neonates. OA's were scanned by sagittal imaging of the orbitae through the eye lids, MCA through the temporal bone, ACA through the fontonel. Cardiac output (CO) was derived from mean BFV in the ascending aorta and aortic root area. Results: right/leftOA-BFV 0.99±0.1 (n=18)(mean±SD) *p<0.05Correlations were significant for OA-BFV/kg vs GA(r=-0.84), vs CO (r=0.80), vs weight (r = -0.81), vs ACA-BFV/kg (r=0.47) and the ratio (OA-BFV/kg)/CO vs GA(r=-0.88). Serial measurements in single sick neonates (hypokapnia, polycythemia) showed low OA-BFV increasing with normoventilation (Pco2 24-40 torr)and after hemodilution (Hct 0.78-0.50; CO+12%, OA-BFV+50%). Conclusion: pathophysiologicol changes of ophtholmic BFV can be assessed by Doppler sonography, providing a possible tool for future ROP research.