The Clinical Usefulness of the Venous Filling Time in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of venous filling time (VFT) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and the relation of VFT with PDR complications. METHODS: Retinal circulation time (RCT) such as ART (arm to retinal circulation time), AVP (arteriovenous passage time), and VFT (venous filling time) were obtained by video fluorescein angiogram using SLO (Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope), after which PRP (panretinal photocoagulation) was performed. We performed two studies on 39 patients, (39 eyes), who had PDR. In the first study, according to the development of complication, patients were classified into 2 groups, stabilized and complicated groups. In the second study, according to the score of the risk factor by DRS (Diabetic Retinopathy Study), patients were classified into 4 groups, A (1 score), B (2 score), C (3 score), and D (4 score) groups. RCTs, especially VFT were analyzed with each group. RESULTS: In the Mann-Whitney test, the Z-values of ART, AVP and VFT were -1.92, -0.49, and -2.59, respectively. There was a significant difference only in VFT(P<0.05). According to the risk factor scores, VFTs were 7.48 +/- 1.36, 7.84 +/- 0.91, 9.15 +/- 1.10, and 10.94 +/- 0.44 sec in A, B, C, and D groups, respectively. In each group, there were significant differences, except between A and B. CONCLUSIONS: VFT was delayed in the complicated group. With increasing risk factor score, VFT was more delayed. We suggest that VFT is a predictable indicator of the progression and development of complication in PDR.