PURPOSE: To investigate the nocturnal blood pressure "dip" in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 46 patients (36 women and 10 men), including 15 patients with POAG (mean age 49.6 +/- 6.8), 20 patients with NTG (mean age 54.5 +/- 14.1) and 11 control subjects (mean age 43.4 +/- 16.3), were studied. Arterial systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured with automated blood pressure monitor MEDILOG DX in 15 minutes intervals during the day and 30 minutes intervals at night. RESULTS: 30.4% of all examined patients showed the nocturnal "dip" of less than 10% (non-dippers). In 41.4% of patients the blood pressure fell at night by 10-20% (dippers) and in 28.2% of patients by more than 20% (big dippers). The percentage distribution of patients with POAG, NTG and control subjects in non-dippers group was 35%, 36% and 29%; in dippers group: 21%, 53% and 26%; in big dippers group: 46%, 46% and 8% respectively. The nocturnal "dip" was significantly larger in NTG group (max. systolic dip 28% +/- 2.9%, mean systolic dip 17% +/- 4.3%, alpha = 0.05) in comparison with POAG and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Large blood pressure "dips" are observed more frequently in patients with glaucoma than in healthy control subjects. The degree of reduction in blood pressure is significantly larger in NTG patients in comparison with POAG patients and control group.
PURPOSE: To investigate the nocturnal blood pressure "dip" in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 46 patients (36 women and 10 men), including 15 patients with POAG (mean age 49.6 +/- 6.8), 20 patients with NTG (mean age 54.5 +/- 14.1) and 11 control subjects (mean age 43.4 +/- 16.3), were studied. Arterial systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured with automated blood pressure monitor MEDILOG DX in 15 minutes intervals during the day and 30 minutes intervals at night. RESULTS: 30.4% of all examined patients showed the nocturnal "dip" of less than 10% (non-dippers). In 41.4% of patients the blood pressure fell at night by 10-20% (dippers) and in 28.2% of patients by more than 20% (big dippers). The percentage distribution of patients with POAG, NTG and control subjects in non-dippers group was 35%, 36% and 29%; in dippers group: 21%, 53% and 26%; in big dippers group: 46%, 46% and 8% respectively. The nocturnal "dip" was significantly larger in NTG group (max. systolic dip 28% +/- 2.9%, mean systolic dip 17% +/- 4.3%, alpha = 0.05) in comparison with POAG and control group. CONCLUSIONS: Large blood pressure "dips" are observed more frequently in patients with glaucoma than in healthy control subjects. The degree of reduction in blood pressure is significantly larger in NTG patients in comparison with POAG patients and control group.