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Systemic hypertension associated retinal microvascular changes can be detected with optical coherence tomography angiography.

ABSTRACT: A major complication of hypertension is microvascular damage and capillary rarefaction is a known complication of hypertensive end-organ damage which confers a higher risk of systemic disease such as stroke and cardiovascular events. Our aim was to study the effect of hypertension on the retinal microvasculature using non-invasive optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). We performed a case-control study of 94 eyes of 94 participants with systemic hypertension and 46 normal control eyes from the Singapore Chinese Eye Study using a standardized protocol to collect data on past medical history of hypertension, including the number and type of hypertensive medications and assessed mean arterial pressure. Retinal vascular parameters were measured in all eyes using OCTA. In the multivariate analysis adjusting for confounders, compared to controls, eyes of hypertensive patients showed a decrease in the macular vessel density at the level of the superficial [OR 0.02; 95% CI, 0 to 0.64; P 0.027] and deep venous plexuses [OR 0.03; 95% CI, 0 to 0.41; P 0.009] and an increase in the deep foveal avascular zone. This shows that hypertension is associated with reduced retinal vessel density and an increased foveal avascular zone, especially in the deep venous plexus, as seen on OCTA and there is a potential role in using OCTA as a clinical tool to monitor hypertensive damage and identifying at risk patients.

SUBMITTER: Sun C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7293289 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Systemic hypertension associated retinal microvascular changes can be detected with optical coherence tomography angiography.

Sun Christopher C Ladores Carlo C Hong Jimmy J Nguyen Duc Quang DQ Chua Jacqueline J Ting Daniel D Schmetterer Leopold L Wong Tien Yin TY Cheng Ching-Yu CY Tan Anna C S ACS

Scientific reports 20200612 1

A major complication of hypertension is microvascular damage and capillary rarefaction is a known complication of hypertensive end-organ damage which confers a higher risk of systemic disease such as stroke and cardiovascular events. Our aim was to study the effect of hypertension on the retinal microvasculature using non-invasive optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). We performed a case-control study of 94 eyes of 94 participants with systemic hypertension and 46 normal control eyes ...[more]

PMID: 32533105

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Project description:PURPOSE:To report 3 cases of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with choroidal nodules associated with retinal microvascular changes imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS:Small case series in 3 NF1 patients. OCTA examinations were performed by a trained examiner (J.J.) after pupillary dilation. A standard scan, centered over the macula measuring 6 × 6 mm and 3 × 3 mm was obtained according to the findings on standard color photography. Additional scans were obtained in the zones with microvascular abnormalities. The segmentation provided by the machine software was used. RESULTS:Corkscrew retinal vessels were observed in association with "placoid"-type choroidal nodules as shown by near-infrared reflectance imaging. In all cases, multiple lesions were found. They were second- or third-order tortuous vessels originating from the superior or inferior temporal veins. OCTA demonstrated that the tortuous venules were located in the superficial capillary plexus, and no abnormalities were found in the deep capillary plexus. DISCUSSION:Corkscrew retinal vessels are part of a spectrum of retinal microvascular alterations seen in association, sometimes overlying choroidal nodules in patients with NF1 and are visualized in the superficial capillary plexus on OCTA. We demonstrated with OCTA that they are not associated with flow loss or ischemia in the superficial and deep capillary plexus. The link between the underlying nodule remains unclear. Since neovascularization was described in choroidal ganglioneuroma, we hypothesize that corresponding secretory substances from Schwann cells, ganglion cells, or melanocytes in choroidal nodules might alter the retinal vasculature. CONCLUSION:We report on 3 cases of NF1 with choroidal nodules in association with retinal microvascular changes imaged with OCTA. OCTA demonstrated preservation of the blood flow in the deep and superficial capillary plexus of the retina. We hypothesize that angiogenic factors secreted by the underlying choroidal nodules could have an effect on the retinal vasculature. Further immunohistological studies in NF1 patients with choroidal nodules to detect angiogenic factors (such as VEGF) are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Project description:Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography is a dye-free and non-invasive angiography which allows visualization of retinal and choroid vascular flow, enabling observation of highly permeable and three dimensional vasculature. Although OCT angiography is providing new insights in human retinal and choroidal diseases, a few studies have been reported in experimental mice. In this study, to determine the potential of OCT angiography in experimental mice, we sought to examine whether OCT angiography can detect vascular change in type I diabetic mice. To conduct age dependent analysis, 2 and 6 month old male type 1 diabetic Ins2Akita/+ and age matched C57BL/6J mice were used. OCT angiography was performed by Heidelberg Spectralis OCT Angiography Module with 30° lens + mouse adapter lens. We acquired the OCT angiography image from the peripheral nasal position. For analysis of OCT angiography images, OCT angiography positive area were used for vascular density. We analyzed vascular density from the retinal surface (inner limiting membrane) to 120 μm depth with 4 μm steps in order to correlate vascular density vs depth (N = 4 per group). Vascular density of both mouse strains demonstrated three different peaks. By comparing with the OCT image, the first peak (superficial), second peak (intermediate) and third peak (deep) were located in nerve fiber layer/ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer/inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer/outer nuclear layer, respectively. We calculated vascular density of these peaks separately. In C57BL/6J mice, the vascular density in all three layers do not show significant difference between 2- and 6-month-old. On the other hand, 6-month-old Ins2Akita/+ mice showed a significant decrease of the vascular density in all three layers compared to 2-month-old Ins2Akita/+ mice. Also, the vascular density of 6-month-old Ins2Akita/+ mice in the deep layer showed a significant decrease compared to 2- and 6-month-old C57BL/6J mice. Thus, OCT angiography successfully detects retinal vascular difference between type I diabetic mice and control mice, and age-dependent vasculature change in type I diabetic mice. The diabetic mice demonstrated reduced vascular density due to reduced density of flowing deep vessels. Importantly, we observed this difference without retinal blood leakage, hemorrhage or neovascularization. Our analysis (vascular density vs retinal depth) suggests that OCT angiography is useful for in vivo detection of retinal vasculature alteration in experimental mice.

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Systemic hypertension associated retinal microvascular changes can be detected with optical coherence tomography angiography.

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Systemic hypertension associated retinal microvascular changes can be detected with optical coherence tomography angiography.

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