Orthostatic Cephalic Hypotension in Patients with Dizziness

The blood pressure in the ophthalmic artery of nine dizziness patients and ten controls was measured in both lying and standing positions by means of Mikuni's ophthalmodynamometer. The nine patients' dizziness attacks often occured upon standing. In both groups, there were no persons with positive Schellong's tests. The following results were obtained. 1) The ophthalmic artery blood pressure of both groups decreased upon standing. 2) There was significantly higher decrease in dizziness patients than in the controls. 3) Statistically, it was concluded that the people with a 17% or more fall in mean ophthalmic artery blood pressures may be diagnosed as orthostatic cephalic hypotension. 4) There were three dizziness patients (33%) who had an orthostatic cephalic hypotension, but there were none in the controls. Of the three, two had no abnormalities in common equilibrium tests (ETT. OKN.). 5) From the above results, it was infered that an ophthalmi: cartery blood pressure measurement is the best way to diagnose orthostatic cephalic hypotension in dizziness patients.