Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences 2010-11-01

Effects of bisoprolol and cilazapril on the central retinal artery blood flow in patients with essential hypertension--preliminary results.

Andrzej Madej, Stanisława Gierek-Ciaciura, Maciej Haberka, Joanna Lekston-Madej, Marcin Basiak, Olga Domańska, Bogusław Okopień

Index: Ups. J. Med. Sci. 115(4) , 249-52, (2010)

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Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests that effective blood pressure reduction may inhibit the progression of microvascular damage in patients with essential arterial hypertension. However, the potential influence of anti-hypertensive drugs on ocular circulation has not been studied sufficiently.The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of anti-hypertensive therapy on blood flow in the central retinal artery in patients with systemic arterial hypertension.Twenty patients with essential arterial hypertension, aged 32-46 years, were examined with Doppler ultrasonography (10 MHz ultrasound probe). Blood flow velocities, pulsatility, and vascular resistance were determined before and 3 hours after systemic application of either bisoprolol 5 mg or cilazapril 2.5 mg.Administered bisoprolol significantly decreased maximum (9.8 ± 0.5 cm/s versus 8.5 ± 0.6 cm/s; P < 0.05) and minimum (2.75 ± 0.19 cm/s versus 1.75 ± 0.27 cm/s; P < 0.02) velocity, increased the Pourcellot's index (0.71 to 0.79; P < 0.05) in central retinal artery. There were no statistically significant changes in central retinal artery blood flow after administration of cilazapril.Systemic application of beta-blockers may unfavourably disturb the ocular blood flow.