網膜色素変性症における前房フレア強度の経時的変化

Time course of aqueous flare value in retinitis pigmentosa

　網膜色素変性症13例26眼を対象として、レーザーフレアセルメーターを用いて経時的に前房フレア強度を測定し，視野変化と比較検討した。3年間の経過観察中に著明な視野変化をきたした症例はなかった。しかし，前房フレア強度は，周辺視野沈下群と求心性視野狭窄群では有意な変化はなかったが，輪状暗点群では3年後に有意な前房フレア強度の上昇（p＜0.001）が示された。

　病像の進行に伴い前房フレア強度が上昇し，求心性視野狭窄を示す末期では一定になるものと推察され，前房フレア強度は，網膜色素変性症の病期進行を反映するパラメーターにもなり得ると考えられた。

We quantitated the aqueous flare values in 26 eyes of 13 patients with retinitis pigmentosa over a 3-year period. A laser flare-cell meter was used in the quantitation. There were no cases which showed marked changes in visual field during the period of observation. The aqueous flare values remained constant in eyes with depressed peripheral visual field or concentric contractions. The flare values significantly increased during the 3 years in eyes with ring scotoma (p ＜ 0.001). The findings seemed to imply that the aqueous flare values increase along with the progression of the disease to eventually stabilize towards the more advanced stage showing contracted visual field. The aqueous flare value, therefore, would serve as a parameter reflecting the progression of retinitis pigmentosa.