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ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract | May 2006

Systemic Betablocker Treatment With

Nebivolol Enhances Ocular Hemodynamics
in Glaucoma Patients With Arterial
Hypertension
P.C. Galambos; N. Matthiesen; L. Wagenfeld; A. Wiermann; R. Praga; E.T. Matthiessen; G. Richard; M. Klemm; O.
Zeitz

 Author A liations & Notes

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2006, Vol.47, 485. doi:https://doi.org/

Abstract
Purpose: : Treatment of arterial hypertension potentially leads to a reduction of ocular
blood ow by lowering perfusion pressure. Aim of the present study was to investigate the
e ect of nebivolol, a systemic beta–blocker with NO–releasing and vasodilatory qualities,
on the blood ow velocities in the retrobulbar vasculature.

Methods: : Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end–diastolic velocity (EDV) in the short and
long posterior ciliary artery (SPCA, LPCA), central retinal artery (CRA) and ophthalmic artery
(OA) were recorded by color Doppler imaging (CDI) in 13 glaucoma patients with arterial
hypertension before and 4 weeks after a switch of systemic antihypertensive betablocker
medication to nebivolol.

Results: : Four weeks after a switch to nebivolol therapy CDI measurements revealed a
signi cant acceleration of the PSV (8.9±0.7cms–1 vs 11.5±0.9cms–1; P=0.023) and EDV
(1.9±0.1cms–1 vs 2.4±0.2cms–1; P=0.048) in the SPCA and PSV (13.2±1.3cms–1 vs
16.1±1.1cms–1; P=0.027) of the LPCA. EDV of LPCA (2.5±0.3cms–1 vs 3.2±0.4cms–1; P=0.072)
was noticeably but statistically non–signi cantly increased. No signi cant di erences in
ow velocities were found for the CRA and OA. IOP and systemic blood pressure remained
unchanged.

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 Conclusions: : Blood pressure treatment with nebivolol leads to an acceleration of
perfusion in the vessels crucial for the blood supply to the optic nerve head. The present
data are the basis for a double–blinded and randomized trial conducted at our eye clinic in
order to investigate bene cial e ects of nebivolol in glaucoma patients and evaluate
whether nebivolol should be a preferred systemic antihypertensive beta–blocker
treatment in glaucoma patients su ering from arterial hypertension.

Keywords: blood supply • optic disc • drug toxicity/drug e ects

© 2006, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved.
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