Ocular pulse amplitude in patients with Graves' disease, A preliminary study

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular pulse amplitude changes in patients with Graves' disease. METHODS: The pulse amplitudes of 31 patients with Graves' disease were measured with the OBF-Tonograph (OBF Labs UK). All patients were in the euthyroid phase of the disease. 17 patients (Group I) had no ocular involvement or only mild lid retraction. 14 patients (Group II) had either proptosis and/or extraocular muscle involvement. Only the worst involved eye of each patient was included into the study. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups among the parameters which might influence the pulse amplitude measurement. The pulse amplitude was statistically significantly lower in Group II than in Group I (2.34+/-0.79 and 3.22+/-0.94 mmHg respectively, p<0.013). CONCLUSION: Pulse amplitude measurements may be an important discrimination and classification parameter for patients with ophthalmic Graves' disease.