Purpose: Acquisition of the possible role played by hemodynamic and hemostatic factors in the pathogenesis of NTG. Materials and Methods: We examined 16 NTG patients and 16 age and sex-matched control group of subjects. For each member of both groups we first evaluated the Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF) parameters blood, flow, velocity at the superior and inferior peripapillary retina and neuroretinal rim. For any of the above mentioned areas we adopted a 1x1 pixel sample box method of analysis. Furthermore we measured the blood concentration of the following hemostatic factors such as follows:
protein C, protein S, antiphospholipid antibodies, factor V Leiden, factorVIII, Von Willebrand antigene, blood levels of omocistein. Results: HRF parameters were decreased (average 27% less) in NTG patients compared to controls, resulting in a statistical difference (p< 0,05). Concerning the hemostatic factors, we observed a more frequent alteration of the values in NTG patients compared to controls. Conclusions: Results suggest that the changing in the normal hemodynamic status and in the hemostatic factors values found in NTG group of patients may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.