片眼性の加齢黄斑変性と頸動脈ドップラー

Doppler ultrasound studies of carotid artery in unilateral age-related macular degeneration

　加齢黄斑変性の発症要因を知る目的で，片眼性の加齢黄斑変性18例に頸動脈ドップラー検査を行った。検索項目は，総頸動脈の内膜中膜厚，プラーク，血管抵抗指数，血流速度である。年齢は46歳から80歳，平均68.5歳であり，男性11名，女性7名であった。血流速度には左右差がなかったが，総頸動脈の内膜中膜は患側で厚く，プラークは患側で多く，血管抵抗指数は患側で高かった。総頸動脈の内膜中膜厚、プラーク，血管抵抗指数はいずれも動脈硬化に関係する因子であり，これらが加齢黄斑変性の片眼発に関与する可能性がある。

We tried to elucidate the pathongenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by performing dop-pler ultrasound studies of carotid artery in 18 cases of unilateral AMD. We measured the intima-media thickness, pres-ence of plaques, vascular resistance index, and peak velocity of blood flow. The series comprised 11 males and 7 fe-males. Their ages ranged from 46 to 80 years, average 68.5 years. The carotid artery in the affected side showed greater intima-media thickness, more numerous plaques, and higher vascular resistance index. There was no differ-ence in velocity of blood flow between the affected and the contralateral side. The findings show that unilateral AMD may be associated with ipsilateral sclerosis of carotid artery as is shown by intima-media thickness, plaques and vascu-lar resistance index.