Abstract

DO.01.10

Microstructural changes of longitudinal retinal arterial profiles measured by Retinal Vessel Analyzer in systemic hypertension

Lanzl I.¹, Nagel E.², Seidova S.-F.¹, Kotliar K.^1
1Augenklinik der TU München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, München; ²Augenarztpraxis, Rudolstadt

Objective: Image analysis by the Retinal Vessel Analyser (RVA) observes retinal vessels in their dynamic state online non-invasively along a chosen vessel segment. Previously we found that the roughness (high-frequency diameter changes) along longitudinal vessel profiles increases significantly in healthy volunteers with increasing age and in glaucoma patients during vascular dilation. Whether longitudinal retinal arterial profiles in systemic hypertension are altered is investigated.
Methods: 15 untreated patients with systemic hypertension (age 47,0(43,5; 61,5) years (median(1 quartile; 3 quartile))) and 15 age matched healthy volunteers were examined by RVA. After baseline assessment for 1 min a monochromatic luminance flicker (530-600nm, 12,5 Hz) was applied for 20 s. In arterial segments of 1 mm in length vessel diameters were measured in order to obtain a longitudinal vessel profile. Differences in amplitude and frequency of vessel diameter change were mathematically analysed.
Results: In the control group average reduced power spectra (ARPS) do not differ when arteries change from the constriction to the dilation. No statistically significant differences in primary or secondary peak frequencies, peak values as well as in average areas under ARPS within any frequency band were found. In systemic hypertension group ARPS of constriction, baseline and restoration differ from ARPS of dilation. Average area under ARPS within the frequency band of 0,03-0,06 Hz differs significantly in dilation (0,226(0,150; 0,292)) from constriction (0,317(0,221; 0,396)), baseline (0,371(0,241; 0,425)) and restoration (0,352(0,243; 0,412)) (p<0,05).
Conclusions: While the microstructure of longitudinal arterial profiles in healthy volunteers does not change for different phases of the vessel reaction, the longitudinal arterial profiles in systemic hypertension become less irregular during vessel dilation. Microstructural changes in longitudinal profiles of retinal arteries in systemic hypertension might be an indication for alterations in the vessel wall rigidity, vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells in this disease, leading to impaired perfusion and regulation.

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