Usefulness of color Doppler imaging of orbital arteries in young hypertensive patients.

Color Doppler imaging (CDI) is an established method for investigating ocular blood flow characteristics, and several blood flow parameters can be obtained from the velocity wave. This study evaluated CDI parameters in hypertensive subjects by measuring flow velocities, resistive index, and the pulsatility index of ocular arteries. One hundred young hypertensive patients and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited for the study. CDI parameters of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and posterior ciliary artery were measured in all subjects. Doppler index cutoff points were calculated using area under the curve with 95% confidence intervals. Results showed that Doppler parameters were significantly higher in subjects diagnosed with hypertension in the young compared to controls.