Ophthalmic Artery Doppler Waveform in the Newborn

Background: The ophthalmic artery Doppler waveform (OADW) is thought to correlate with severity of systemic atherosclerosis. The goal of the present study was to evaluate risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in newborns small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Methods and Results: A total of 15 SGA and 26 AGA newborns were enrolled in the study. OADW was compared between SGA and AGA groups. The median Doppler maximums of both eyes in the SGA group were significantly smaller than in the AGA group (maximum average velocity (max A) 6.4cm/s vs. 8.3cm/s, P=0.028; maximum end diastolic velocity (max D) 2.2cm/s vs. 3.4cm/s, P=0.003). The maximums of both eyes for the maximum resistivity index (max RI) and maximum pulsatility index (max PI) in the SGA group were significantly greater than in the AGA group (RI, 0.88 vs. 0.82, P=0.005; PI, 2.23 vs. 1.72, P=0.002). When a multiple linear regression analysis of the SGA group with a stepwise procedure was applied to positive variables from 2-sided comparisons, significant correlations were noted for max A and max PI (max A: R2=0.495, β=0.541, P=0.034; max PI: β=-3.318, P=0.012). Conclusions: OADW in SGA newborns may be related to future risk of CVD, which is undetectable in infancy, and can provide information to estimate future cardiovascular health. (Circ J 2012; 76: 2009–2014)