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Acute and Subacute Effect of Rheopheresis on Microvascular Endothelial Function in Patients Suffering From Age‐related Macular Degeneration
Author(s) -
Rossi Marco,
Puccini Rodolfo,
Romagnoli Maria Chiara,
Di Maria Cinzia,
Mattei Paola,
Bernini Matteo,
Marconcini Claudio,
Santoro Gino
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
therapeutic apheresis and dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.415
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1744-9987
pISSN - 1744-9979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-9987.2009.00705.x
Subject(s) - medicine , iontophoresis , macular degeneration , reactive hyperemia , laser doppler velocimetry , microcirculation , ischemia , endothelial dysfunction , blood flow , vasodilation , cardiology , gastroenterology , ophthalmology , radiology
This study was performed on seven patients affected by the atrophic form of age‐related macular degeneration (AF‐ARMD). The patients under investigation belonged to a larger study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of rheopheresis treatment (RT) on the visual function of AF‐ARMD patients. Following the protocol of the larger study, patients received RT twice a week, every two weeks, for a total of ten treatments, as well as high‐dose supplementation with zinc and vitamins A, E and beta‐carotene. Recruited patients underwent skin laser Doppler flowmetry coupled with skin iontophoresis of the endothelium‐dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) and a test of skin post‐ischemic reactive hyperemia, before and after the first RT (time 1: all seven patients) and the fifth RT (time 2: six patients). A significantly higher absolute ( anova for repeated measures) and relative (percentage change from the baseline) skin blood flux response (SBFR) to ACh iontophoresis was observed after RT, compared to before RT at time 1 (679 ± 43% and 436 ± 78%, respectively; P < 0.05), as well as before RT at time 2 compared to before RT at time 1 (683 ± 74% and 436 ± 78%, respectively; P < 0.05). Absolute and relative SBFR to ischemia did not differ either after RT compared to before RT at time 1, or before RT at time 2 compared to before RT at time 1. These findings are consistent with an acute and subacute beneficial effect of RT on skin microvascular endothelial function in the studied AF‐ARMD patients.