Possibilities of color duplex scanning in assessing the state of ocular blood flow in patients with active retinopathy of prematurity

The purpose of the study is to analyze the possibilities of color duplex scanning in assessing the state of ocular blood flow at various stages and forms of active retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Material and Methods. A study of blood flow in the vessels of the eye and orbit was performed in 16 children (30 eyes) with various stages of active ROP at 6-10 weeks of life (post-conceptual age 36-38 weeks). A study of the blood flow in the vessels of the eye and orbit was performed by using the duplex scanning method in the modes of color Doppler mapping and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. The control group consisted of 9 premature infants without signs of ROP. Blood flow was evaluated in the ocular artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), central retinal vein (CRV), medial and lateral posterior short ciliated arteries (PSCA). The Doppler frequency shift spectrum (DFSS) was recorded and quantitative blood flow parameters were determined in these vessels, i. e. the maximum systolic rate (V ), the final diastolic rate (Vdiast), and the index of resistance or peripheral resistance (Rl). Results. The first and second stages of ROP were characterized by decreasing V in the orbital artery. A significant increasing V was detected in children with the third stage of ROP. Values of V in the orbital artery at all stages of ROP were significantly reduced if compared with the control group. The decrease of blood flow velocity index in the central retinal artery was detected in children with ROP. At the same time, a dependence of a greater extent on the type of pathological process than on the stage was found. We observed a significant increase in the Vsyst during the fourth stage. Analysis of blood flow in the posterior short ciliary arteries revealed the decreasing V during the first, second and third stages of ROP. The increase of the resistance index was revealed in all vessels under study. Conclusion. Presence of varying severity of hemodynamic disturbances of ROP was established. Color duplex scanning has significant diagnostic potential in assessing the hemodynamic parameters of the eyeball and orbit vessels, it is highly reproducible and objective.