Abstract

P 266

A novel method for assessment of atherosclerotic changes of retinal vessels

Vladimir Surguch1, Maria Budzinskaya1, Irina Shegoleva1, S Kuzmin2, G Vorozhcov2
1Research Institute of Eye Diseases, Moscow, Russia; 2Intermedbiofizchim, Moscow, Russia

Objective
There is a lack of relieable and noninvasive methods to assess atherosclerotic changes of the vessels. Characteristic changes of retinal vessels are commonly used as a marker atherosclerosis but they are observer-dependent and not specific. The pupose of the present study was to develop an approach for estimation of the wall's thickness and regurality of retinal vessels' proximal portion and to assess correlation of these parameters with cardiovascular disease.
Methods
Thickness of the wall of retinal vessels proximal to optic nerve was established by subtructing the luminal thickness (as seen in Fluorescein angiography and infrared imaging) from the total vessel's thickness revealed by red-free imaging with Heidelberg Retina Angiograph (Heidelberg Engeneering, Germany). Regularity of the luminal thickness was assessed as well. Three groups of patients were compared: (1) healthy young subjects, (2) aged subjects without significant cardiovascular disease and (3) aged subjects with  establishedsignificant atherosclerosis.
Results
Twelve eyes of 6 patients with known pronounced atherosclerosis were. Vessel's lumen comprised 71% of total vessel's diameter, compared to 88% in aged subgects wihtout significant cardiovascular disease and 93% in younger subjects. Artherial wall's was significantly thicker (0,015mm compared to 0,004mm) in the former group. There was no significant difference in total retinal diameter between three groups.Irregularity of vessel's wall was noted only in the group of patints with atherosclerosis.
Conclusions
Thickness of arterial vessel's wall can be assessed by comparing total vessel's diameter and luminal diameter. This parameter correlates with presence of systemic atherosclerosis. To futher evaluate the significance of retinal arterial wall's thickness as a marker of systemic atherosclerosis and a risc factor larger population studies are needed.

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