Purpose: Our aim was to compare the Doppler ultrasonography (US) parameters with clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Methods: Blood flow parameters in the ophthalmic artery (OA), superior ophthalmic vein (SOV), central retinal artery (CRA) and central retinal vein (CRV) were measured by Doppler US in 118 patients with Graves' disease in 3 groups (A, B, and C) and 20 control subjects. Group A included 25 patients with CAS value "0"; group B 55 patients with CAS value "1 or 2"; group C 38 patients with CAS value "3 or above."
Results: Peak systolic velocities (PSV) and end-diastolic velocities (EDV) in the OA, PSV, and in the CRA calculated for group C were significantly higher than for group A, group B, and the control group. Resistance index in the OA and maximal velocity (MV) in the SOV calculated for group C were significantly lower than those calculated for group A, group B, and the control group.
Conclusion: Doppler parameters of MV in SOV, PSV and EDV in OA, and PSV in CRA seem to be helpful in the differentiation of active and inactive phases of Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.