Blood flow parameters in the arteries of the eye in premature children

Introduction
Purpose of the study was to evaluate blood flow in the arteries of the eye in preterm neonates.

Material and methods
Color Doppler imaging (CDI) of ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary arteries was performed in 36 preterm infants and 19 full-term infants. Maximal systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistance index- RI and pulsatility index- PI were assessed for the studied vessels.

Results
There were no significant differences in ophthalmic artery blood flow between preterm and normal newborns. End-diastolic velocity in central retinal artery and posterior ciliary arteries in preterm infants was significantly lower and resistent index and pulsatility index was higher. The Doppler color ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique which can be useful for the estimation of the hemodynamic parameters in the arteries of the eye in the prematures.

Conclusions
The recorded changes in the ultrasound measurements of the blood flow in the eye arteries in premature children comparing to the normal newborns, can be the evidence for the immaturity of the vessel system in the preterm born neonates.