Effect of hospitalization on intraocular pressure in patients with high tension and normal tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of hospitalization on intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: IOP was measured on three consecutive days in 26 high-tension (HTG) and 13 normal-tension (NTGwm) glaucoma patients under IOP-lowering treatment, and in 28 normal-tension glaucoma patients without IOP-lowering treatment (NTGnm), and change was compared by analysis of variance. RESULTS: IOP decreased significantly, but comparably, in the three groups and between right and left eyes, although, the relative change to IOP on day 1 was significantly less pronounced in the group without treatment on day 2 and 3 compared with the treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Glaucoma patients showed a significant decrease in IOP during hospitalization. Although this decrease was more pronounced among the treated patients, it was also present in nontreated patients. Consequently, other factors than improved compliance during hospitalization must play a role in this phenomenon.

Increased endothelin-1 plasma levels in giant cell arteritis: a report on four patients.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that endothelin-1 is increased in giant cell arteritis. METHODS: Interventional case series. The medical history of four patients who presented to the University Eye Clinic Basel, Switzerland, with giant cell arteritis is reported. Endothelin-1 plasma levels were measured in all patients. The relevant medical literature was reviewed. RESULTS: All patients presented with typical histopathological signs of giant cell arteritis in the temporal artery biopsy. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased in two patients. All patients showed significantly increased endothelin-1 plasma levels, ranging between 3.13 to 4.82 pg/ml (reference value for females: 1.42 pg/ml +/- 0.28 standard deviation, for males: 1.67 pg/ml +/- 0.34 standard deviation). CONCLUSION: The data obtained from the patients so far examined indicate that the level of circulating endothelin-1 is increased in giant cell arteritis. The clinical relevance of such an increase needs to be further evaluated.

Transient raise of endothelin-1 plasma level and reduction of ocular blood flow in a patient with optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: To analyze how far an ischemic component might have been involved in optic neuritis. CASE REPORT: a 32-year-old man with symptoms characteristic for optic neuritis underwent extensive clinical, laboratory/serological and vascular examination for systemic associations and vascular involvement. RESULTS: The patient was found to have a temporary ocular blood flow dysregulation and increased plasma endothelin-1 levels which decreased after the acute phase of the optic nerve. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there might be an ischemic component in this patient with optic neuritis and hypothesize that this ischemic component is at least in part due to a temporarily increased endothelin-1 level.

Reduced thirst in patients with a vasospastic syndrome.

PURPOSE: To compare thirst, drinking behaviour, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) plasma levels between vasospastic and non-vasospastic subjects. METHODS: We compared 67 subjects with a primary vasospastic syndrome with 64 age- and sex-matched non-vasospastic control subjects. A detailed medical history was recorded, including a questionnaire containing queries about thirst and drinking behaviour, history of migraine or unspecific headache, history of episodes of low blood pressure, and smoking habits. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and blood samples were drawn for ET-1 measurements. RESULTS: Subjects with a vasospastic syndrome reported a reduced desire to drink and a lower estimated quantity of daily fluid intake, more often forgot to drink, more often had both migraine and unspecific headache, more often had episodes of low blood pressure, and had an increased plasma level of ET-1. These features differed statistically significantly between the two groups. There was also a non-significant trend among vasospastic subjects to smoke less and to have a smaller BMI. CONCLUSION: A reduced desire to drink is found frequently among vasospastic subjects.