Open AccessObservations on Degenerative Changes Within the Optic Nerve in Patients With Primary Open Glaucoma and Arterial Hypertension: 6‐Month Follow‐Up
Author(s) -
Krasińska Beata,
Banach Maciej,
KarolczakKulesza Małgorzata,
Krasiński Zbigniew,
Głuszek Jerzy,
Tykarski Andrzej
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2012.00694.x
Subject(s) - medicine , glaucoma , blood pressure , ophthalmology , optic nerve , evening , diastole , central retinal artery , open angle glaucoma , intraocular pressure , blood flow , nerve fiber layer , retinal , antihypertensive drug , anesthesia , cardiology , physics , astronomy
J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) . 2012;14:701–710. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors aimed to determine the effect of the time of hypotensive drug administration on the progress of degenerative changes within the optic nerve in patients with hypertension and glaucoma. Two groups were included in the study: group A comprised patients‐dippers taking drugs in the mornings, and group B comprised patients‐nondippers taking drugs both in the mornings and in the evenings. After 6 months, group B showed significant drops in nocturnal diastolic blood pressure (BP) (month 1=73.27 mm Hg vs month 6=67.50 mm Hg), nocturnal mean BP (89.34 vs 84.65 mm Hg), and minimum diastolic BP (50.74 vs 44.03 mm Hg). Group B also showed significant reductions in nocturnal ocular perfusion pressure (43.0 vs 39.73), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (131.31 vs 113.12 μm), and flow in the eye vessels. Taking hypotensive drugs in the evening may significantly decrease blood flow in the eye arteries, cause degenerative changes within the optic nerves, and result in greater loss in the field of vision.