The usage of corneal thermography for diagnostics of atherosclerotic changes of brachiocephalic arteries

Objective: to estimate the predictive value of corneal thermography for diagnostics of atherosclerotic changes of brachiocephalic arteries. Material and methods. Authors examined 97 patients with stenotic changes of brachiocephalic arteries (48 men and 49 women). The middle age was 62,3±4,6 years old. The examination algorithm in examined group included clinical and neurological assessment, clinical blood analysis, cholesterol and blood lipids level assessment, coagulation profile, triplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries (estimation of stenosis severity, characteristics of atherosclerotic plaque and condition of its surface). Bran CT or MRI was performed in some patients. Patients with any ophthalmological disease were excluded from this study. All patients were distributed into 3 groups according to data of triplex scanning of brachiocephalic arteries (BCA) and in accordance with NASCET criteria: 1st group - stenosis of BCA is less than 40%, 2d group - 50-60% stenosis and 3d group - stenosis more than >70%. Results. The decrease of corneal temperature is observed at the side of ICA atherosclerotic damage which is correlates with the degree of artery stenosis. The most important is the corneal temperature gradient of both eyeballs which is increases according to increase of stenosis severity. The value of corneal temperature gradient depends on the grade of ICA stenosis. The meaning of this gradient more than 0,4 °С allows supposing the ICA stenosis with the following obligate performance of ultrasound of angiographic examination of BCA. The temperature gradient > 0,4°С is correlates with 30-40% stenosis of ICA, > 0,6°С - 50-60%, > 0,8°С - ICA stenosis more than 70%. Conclusion. The measuring of corneal temperature can be used for early diagnostics of stenotic atherosclerotic changes of BCA.

роговица глаз, термография, градиент температуры, стенозы сонных артерий, eye cornea, thermography, temperature gradient, stenosis of internal carotid artery

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