A Study on Measurements of Retinal Blood Flow Using a Fluorescent Leukocyte Angiography

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to develop a new method, fluorecent leukocyte angiography(FLAG), to measure retinal circulation. Fluorescein-stained leukocytes can be seen in all the retinal vessels during fluorescein angiography using Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope(SLO FAG) and retinal blood flow can be measured by using leukocyte velocities in the retinal vessels. Methods were followings. Firstly, blood was withdrawn from vein, mixed with fluorescein(10%) and anticoagulant and then centrifuged. The yellowbrown coat layer containing fluorescin-stained leukocytes was selected and injected into the vein while performing SLO FAG. The image of FLAG displayed circulating hyperfluorescent leukocytes clearly in all retinal vessels, and allowed the measurement of leukocyte velocities. In conclusion, FLAG is a new method to measure blood flow in all the retinal vessels simultaneously and can be a useful tool for studying animal and human retinal circulation.