Key result
Higher augmentation index is linked to a larger foveal avascular zone in retinal vein occlusion.
Why the study?
The association between endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and retinal microvascular changes in patients with retinal vein occlusion was not well characterized.
Cross-Sectional (n=28)
In patients with retinal vein occlusion, markers of systemic endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness correlate with structural and microvascular retinal changes.
Suggests arterial stiffness may worsen macular ischemia in RVO; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical relevance.
Background/Objectives: To investigate the potential association between the endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness with retinal changes observed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were 28 patients with RVO. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all participants were recorded. Comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations were performed, including fundus photography, OCT and OCT-A. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed by measuring the endothelial glycocalyx thickness via the perfused boundary region (PBR5-25). Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), the central systolic and diastolic blood pressures (cSBP and cDBP) and the augmentation index (Aix). For each ophthalmological outcome, we generated a saturated linear regression model with demographic and systemic vascular parameters serving as independent variables. Regression coefficients with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. A p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: A 1 m/s increase in PWV was associated with a 0.6% reduction in inferior macular vessel density (VD) (p = 0.050). A 10 mmHg increase in cSBP was associated with a 0.03 mm2 increase in foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area (p = 0.033). A 1% increase in Aix was associated with a 0.005 mm2 increase in FAZ area (p = 0.008). A 1 μm increase in PBR5-25 was associated, on average, with a 4.4% decrease in superior peripapillary VD (p = 0.027). Conclusions: In patients with RVO, structural and microvascular retinal parameters were significantly associated with markers of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness.
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Pappelis et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) (n=28). Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness was evaluated on Retinal changes observed through optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT-angiography (OCT-A). In patients with retinal vein occlusion, a 1% increase in augmentation index was associated with a 0.005 mm2 increase in foveal avascular zone area (p=0.008).
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